Conversely, institutions that implement ceiling lifts see a dramatic improvement in their insurance risk profile. The injured caregiver represents a cost to the health care system. A study at one institution found that lost time injuries resulting from manual client handling averaged 22 days. An institution that introduced ceiling lifts experienced an 85 percent drop in hours lost due to injuries. Staff turnover precipitated by the occupational risk of injury from client handling increases health care staff management cost on an ongoing basis.
High turnover means high recruiting, relocation and training costs.
Some devices may actually introduce new injuries. Floor lifts, for example, may cause foot injuries, may become difficult to stabilize and are a strain to maneuver in tight spaces. Questionnaire Waverley Glen has developed a questionnaire that has proven helpful in systematic data gathering towards a financial justification of ceiling lifts. The questionnaire is available upon request. The cost of caregiver injuries and poor caregiver time management has been calculated at both macro and micro levels, from national statistics to units within institutions.