Care home trials game changing technology

Clarendon House Care Home in Coventry took part in a two week trial in consultation with health and safety experts, Stanley. The care home is now planning to introduce the wearable technology more widely across the business to help support their carers’ long term health and safety.

Clarendon House Care Home management team had been looking at possible solutions to improve the health and wellness of its team who often suffered with injury and decided to contact Stanley because of the consultative approach they take to recommending the right exoskeleton for the task at hand.

To assess how this technology might work for Clarendon House, Stanley sent in one of its ergonomic safety technology consultants. Video scanning technology was used to assess a set of specific tasks carried out by the carers. One worker was filmed moving a patient in and out of bed. A second was filmed lifting a patient up from a sitting position. The captured data was then reviewed to produce a detailed report.  The Stanley team advised that the passive BionicBack exoskeleton was the most appropriate suit for use by carers at Clarendon House as it can provide effective relief for up to 60kg of weight and is designed to increase stability when bending, lifting, repositioning, and transferring patients.  Each suit is designed to keep the worker safe and to protect and support their body to reduce musculoskeletal disorders.  

Results from the trial found:

• workers felt 33% less tired whilst wearing the suit
• no injuries were reported in the trial period
• zero sick days during that period

Andre Jutel, head of ergonomic safety at Stanley said, “AI wearable technology is potentially game changing for many physically demanding job roles including care work. The technology is designed to provide extra support when lifting heavy loads, allowing the user to work more productively without pain or fatigue . 

The consultative approach taken throughout this project, demonstrates just how using a phased process and trial were pivotal in Clarendon House selecting the correct exoskeleton for their team and business.  Not only that, but the data collected during the trial was central to providing invaluable insights and highlighting how the BionicBack exoskeleton suit has helped reduce the risk of a back injury. I’m eager to continue working with the team at the home to further reduce the risk of injury and transform safety in their workplace.”

Video scanning technology was used to help match the most appropriate exoskeleton suit to the physical task carried out by the carer and to ensure that it could assist in the usual daily tasks without the wearer finding it cumbersome or potentially being exposed to muscular injury.  The sensor analysis allowed the Care Home Management team to view the before and after impact using data that was generated from wearing the suit and sensors.

Director of Clarendon House, Abbas Nurmohamed said, “We contacted Stanley because we were looking at potential solutions to improve the health and safety of our care workers.  Looking after residents in a care home environment is a physically demanding job. The carers often work 12-hour shifts, which can involve activities such as hoisting patients out of bed, bending to lower patients into seating and supporting patients to help dress and clean them. Many of our care team at Clarendon House have been working in the industry for an average of eight years, making them potentially more susceptible to a workplace injury. The successful trial and proven worker acceptance has been very encouraging for us. The BionicBack suit clearly reduced worker back exertion while improving the confidence within the care team.  I’m now working with the Stanley team to introduce a wider implementation programme and rollout.”

At the end of trial, care home Team Leader Agoritsa Karagiampa commented, “After a while, it felt like I wasn’t even wearing the BionicBack exoskeleton. The suit allowed me to confidently lift and move patients, knowing that I had the extra back support. It was easily adjustable, and I would love to be able to continue wearing the suit at work.”

Exoskeletons | Reduce MSDs at Work | Stanley (stanleyhandling.co.uk)