Table safety comes in all shapes and sizes.
Table safety comes in all shapes and sizes.Your table is your number one tool besides your hands. That’s why it is so important to make sure your table is safe not only for you, but for your staff and patients too. To help you achieve this goal, here are four safety tips to consider adding to your routine.
1: Schedule regular check-ups
Regular maintenance and making repairs as they are needed will prevent injury and increase longevity of your table. The best way to do this is to check it over according to a schedule that fits your practice. Doing so allows you to catch any potential table-related problems before they get bigger and more costly.
Things you’ll want to look for include:
- Bolts and screws that appear to have loosened;
- Cushions that have developed wear and tear; and
- Drops, pedals, and levers that aren’t working as intended.
Read more about table maintenance in “Chiropractic table maintenance.”
2: Keep it clean
Cleaning and disinfecting your chiropractic regularly ensures you reduce the risk spreading pathogens. Some table manufacturers sell their own cleaning solutions you can purchase. Others recommend using dish soap and water to remove any spots and 91 percent rubbing alcohol to disinfect your table.1
Read more about cleaning tips in “A guide to cleaning and disinfecting you chiropractic table.”
3: Train your staff
When you have others working in your office, it is important to make sure they know how to safely use your chiropractic table to avoid potential injuries to themselves and your patients. Take the time to train them in the basics, such as how to raise and lower the table, adjust the drops, and use all of the levers and pedals.
Empower your staff to advise patients, including children, not to play with the table while in the exam room. Innocently pushing a button, lever, or pedal could possibly cause a lot of harm to the table or people nearby.
4: Use the right table for the patient
Although your primary goal in choosing a chiropractic table is to select one that works best for your particular treatment style, it is also necessary to take into account your patients’ needs.
If you treat a lot of seniors, a table with drop pieces may be beneficial so you can provide less force during adjustments on older patients. For those patients with difficulty lifting themselves, a table that is low or lowers is essential.
Successful safety
Develop a safety plan for your practice designed to protect. A table inspection, cleaning, and repair schedule are all great parts to this plan in addition to making informed table selections for your patients. Use these tips to make your chiropractic table safer for you, your staff, and your patients.
Reference
1 Hill Laboratories Company. “Hill AFT/AirAFT Table: Owner’s Manual.” http://www.hilllabs.com/manuals/hill_mnl_aft_web.pdf. Published February 2012. Accessed September 2015.
