Page 189 - HA Convention 2015

Service Priorities and Programmes Free Papers

SPP7.5 Committed and Happy Staff 13:15 Room 221

Enhancement in Storeroom Management by “Safe, Effective and Efficient” Method in Physiotherapy Department
of Tseung Kwan O Hospital
Ngan KTS, Ip YC, Chan TF, Au TK, Fung YK
Physiotherapy Department, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Hong Kong

Introduction

The Kowloon East Cluster (KEC) Storeroom Management Guideline (the Guideline) was implemented to identify and control
manual handling operation (MHO) related risks in storerooms in 2014. According to the Guideline, all storage shelves in
storerooms should be affixed designated weight limit labels. To reinforce and facilitate implementation of the Guideline on
storeroom management, the Physiotherapy Department invented the “Safe, Effective and Efficient” Method (SEE Method) to
reduce the errors in affixing weight limit labels due to inaccurate use of anthropometric data from the Guideline.

Objectives

(1) To facilitate implementation of the Guideline on storeroom management; and (2) to raise colleagues’ awareness of safe
practice of MHO.

Methodology Tuesday, 19 May

A specially designed Excel template (i.e. SEE Method), which integrated the anthropometric data derived from the Guideline
and a colour code designed by our Department for this labelling exercise, was employed in January 2014. This template
utilised the built-in conditional formatting function of Microsoft Excel, allowing individual cells to change to corresponding
colours automatically according to the pre-set anthropometric consideration matching with colour codes. Our colleagues
were trained on measurement method of sub-shelf height and data input according to the Guideline and the SEE Method
respectively. An audit on storeroom management was performed afterwards.

Results

The sub-shelf heights of 24 storage shelves in nine storerooms were collected with data input to the SEE Method template.
The audit result showed all storage shelves in different storerooms at our Department were correctly affixed with the
recommended weight limit labels. The positive audit result could be contributed to the improved consistency of the labelling
procedure amongst colleagues with the use of the SEE Method which likely minimised errors stemming from analysis of
anthropometric data with corresponding shelf height; and the prompt colour feedback of the SEE Method which eased the
determination of suitable weight limit labels to be affixed. This SEE Method created a safe working environment by giving an
overview of the distribution of weight limit of all storage shelves, thereby assisting colleagues in stratifying the MHO-related
risks when allocating goods in storeroom. After the Guideline and SEE Method implementation, there was no injury on duty
related to storeroom management reported and the SEE method was awarded with Gold Prize in the Kowloon East Cluster
Occupational Safety and Health Awarding Ceremony cum Good Practices Sharing 2014.

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