The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is asking healthcare employers to take immediate actions to reduce worker injuries and illnesses. The request is largely due to data that shows U.S. healthcare workers experienced a 249% increase in injury and illness rates in 2020. Workers in healthcare and social assistance jobs combined have suffered more injuries and illnesses than workers in any industry.
OSHA suggests combatting workplace injury and illness by initiating proactive safety and health programs to address hazards and endorse training and preventive measures that are designed to keep employees safe. OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program is available to increase workplace safety. Program success is evidenced by the improvement at a community hospital in Kansas that adopted OSHA’s suggestions and improved its safety and health program to the extent that they were awarded OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) recognition status eight times.
OSHA’s acting Regional Administrator Ryan Hodge in Kansas City Missouri stated, “Healthcare workers routinely face the risks associated with exposures to bloodborne pathogens, drug residue, x-ray machines, respiratory illness, and ergonomic injuries related to lifting patients and repetitive tasks. Our nation’s caregivers have made extraordinary sacrifices in recent years – putting themselves on the frontline in a pandemic – and we owe it to them to ensure their employers are doing all they can to protect their employees.”
Information about OSHA’s SHARP program can be accessed at Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov). Companies interested in the SHARP program can contact their local OSHA On-Site Consultation program to discuss details and to schedule an on-site safety and health evaluation or call 1-(800) 321-OSHA (6742) or visit OSHA’s website at On-Site Consultation | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov).
Issue:
Employers are obligated to comply with OSHA guidelines and standards and to ensure that all healthcare staff work in a safe environment. A facility’s Safety Committee can be instrumental in identifying safety risks and taking a proactive approach to reducing injuries and illnesses. Failure by a facility to follow OSHA guidelines and regulations may result in financial penalties and other sanctions.
Discussion Points:
- Review your policies and procedures related to reducing employees’ injuries and illnesses and promoting a safe work environment. Ensure that the policies and procedures incorporate OSHA’s guidelines and standards.
- Train all staff on policies related to reducing employee injuries and illnesses and their responsibility to follow those guidelines. Ensure that leadership staff are knowledgeable of OSHA’s standards for a safe working environment. Document that these trainings occurred and file each signed training document in the employee’s individual education file.
- Periodically audit to ensure that employees are following policies and procedures for maintaining a safe environment. Monitor injury and illness logs and trends and address any concerns promptly.
