Don’t let safety go down the drain

Physical therapists who work with patients and provide them treatment in hydrotherapy pools need to be aware of the many hazards that such a work environment may pose to them, including hazards from bloodborne pathogens, electrical equipment and poor ergonomics.

They must also be aware of how to recognize these hazards and how to protect themselves from being injured or harmed as a result of these hazards.

Infection hazards in hydrotherapy
Since the introduction of universal precautions, patients who may be affected with various bloodborne pathogens, such as HIV, HBV and Hepatitis C are more likely to receive hydrotherapy than ever before. Therefore, if you provide hydrotherapy to patients, you need to be aware of your facility’s infection control policy and its exposure control plan.

n You need to familiarize yourself with how these diseases may be spread, what the tasks are that you perform that may expose you to bloodborne pathogens and what equipment and methods you need to use to protect yourself from exposure and potential infection by these agents.

n You also need to know how to properly clean, disinfect and dispose of any personal protective equipment that you may use while performing your job.

Electricity and moisture make a dangerous mix
Electrical shocks are another potential hazard associated with hydrotherapy pools. Any electrical equipment in the area of the pool or used to provide treatment to patients can become a source of electrical shock.

• Electrical devices with ground faults or short circuits are especially dangerous in the areas surrounding the hydrotherapy pool.
• In addition, moisture on the skin can provide an easy path for the flow of electricity from a defective electrical device through a person’s body.

In order to protect yourself from electric shock hazards, be sure that the equipment you use is grounded and equipped with ground fault circuit interrupters. In addition, make sure that you are familiar with the warnings and proper procedures for each piece of electrical equipment.

Lifting and moving patients can hurt you
Finally, when you work with patients in hydrotherapy pools, you need to be aware of the potential for slips, falls and ergonomic hazards.

Working with patients in hydrotherapy pools often means that you will be moving heavy patients with little or no assistance.

• To avoid problems such as back and shoulder injuries, the hazards associated with moving patients should be evaluated. The evaluation should include the weight, size, illness and history of aggression.
• Moving patients alone should be avoided whenever possible and lift teams should be developed to assist with the movement of patients who cannot move on their own.

Don’t slip up
Slips and falls, especially on wet surfaces, or even those that have not been properly and adequately cleaned are always a possibility. Surfaces near the pool, in change rooms and other pool-associated areas should be slip resistant and the floors cleaned so as to remove any slippery biofilm that could accumulate during the course of a day.