Healthcare is a rapidly growing industry, and its jobs are among the most risky in the nation. A tradition of caring and giving patient safety top priority has placed healthcare workers at a disadvantage in terms of protecting their own health and well-being. Last week I moderated a webcast panel discussion, Promoting a Safety Culture in Healthcare, that explored the role of safety within the healthcare workforce. The panelists that joined our discussion shared some enlightening insight that I want to pass on: The Joint Commission is a patient safety organization; OSHA is an employee safety organization. There is overlap, but a sole focus...
Employee assistance ...
posted by Karen O'Hara
Employers who offer an employee assistance program (EAP) as a benefit of employment recognize that professional counseling and related services help their employees more expeditiously resolve personal problems that diminish their work performance. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports...
ICD-10 postponed aga...
posted by Karen O'Hara
The greatly anticipated transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 coding was postponed again on Feb. 15 by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. HHS said the action was taken in response to concerns from the medical community about administrative burdens associated with implementing the...
Improve workplace safety by empowering all employe...
posted by Eric Glass
My responsibilities as an EHS consultant with UL PureSafety include sharing workplace safety trends with our staff and clients. This particular piece caught my eye. In 2011, Kimberley-Clark surveyed National Safety Council Congress attendees on the use of PPE (or misuse). An alarming 89% of respondents indicated that they’ve observed workers at their company not wearing proper PPE. These same respondents were asked how they would approach this issue to ensure that employees comply with their organization’s PPE policy (multiple answers permitted): Improve existing education and training: 70% Purchase more comfortable PPE:...
Independent audits &...
posted by Dr. Scott Harris
Independent audits and reviews are one very good way of evaluating a program objectively and accurately to determine vulnerabilities and risk. These plans and programs come in many forms and serve many purposes, ranging from EPA and OSHA compliance and Emergency Action Plans to Risk...
On the road again: t...
posted by Allison Everett
For reasons that are too complicated to explain, I had the chance to meet with a Tarot card reader. I learned that my dog is incredibly happy, but I’ll want to keep an eye on her front right paw. Once we got those important matters settled, the card reader asked me what I wanted to...
A solution for healt...
posted by L Chaff & L Mazzuckelli
We all know there is a significant problem with respect to work-related injuries and illnesses among healthcare workers. We know that healthcare worker injuries and illnesses occur at a frequency greater than in any other industry sector in the United States. We also know that these injuries...
Super Bowl lessons f...
posted by Eric Glass
With Super Bowl Sunday behind us, what better time to tackle my favorite topics. Sports? Occupational Health and Safety? Game on. Just like the Patriots and the Giants in the Super Bowl, your occupational health and safety program performance depends on the entire team, not just the safety...
Safety at 39,000 feet
posted by Eric Glass
I am writing this blog while cruising at 39,000 feet traveling for ASSE’s SeminarFest. Sheer boredom has taken over. I’ve looked through SkyMall magazine and have become familiar with my responsibilities to safely evacuate my co-passengers since I am sitting in an emergency exit row. With nothing else to do, I started to watch the flight attendants and noticed how methodical they were in their actions: When collecting trash from passengers, the attendant always has one hand on a seat-back When walking the aisles, their eyes always down at a passengers feet, never looking above the passengers chest As they prepare drinks, they...
Occupational medicin...
posted by Karen O'Hara
Occupational medicine physicians who are willing to step into the spotlight have a window of opportunity to play an influential role in the way workers and their families will access healthcare services in the U.S. for years to come. Those who linger in the shadows are likely to regret missing...
Lift platforms: Stil...
posted by Dr. Scott Harris
Lift platforms, sometimes called safety platforms, are essentially work platforms attached to a forklift and used to raise personnel. Think of them as a poor man’s aerial lift. Such platforms range from commercially produced to homemade models that wouldn’t even pass for a good...
GHS Standard delayed...
posted by Todd Hohn
The much anticipated GHS Standard (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals) expected to be released in February has been delayed again. According to The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), it has decided to extend its review of the Occupational...
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