What’s New in the Patient Safety World
February 2014
OSHA Worker Safety in Hospitals
Several studies have shown that healthcare worker safety and patient safety are interrelated and that hospitals having good worker safety records also tend to have good patient safety records.
OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) has just launched some new worker and patient safety resources on its website “Worker Safety in Hospitals”. You’ve heard us say often that hospitals are dangerous places for patients. Well, hospitals are also dangerous places for workers. In fact, injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work are more frequent in hospital workers and almost 50% more than in manufacturing or private industry.
The OSHA website has fact books and self-assessment tools for hospitals. It also has a host of tools for implementing best practices in activities such as patient handling, equipment handling, lifting, etc. It also has links to other good worker resources.
Good worker safety programs may improve job satisfaction and morale, reduce staff turnover, improve patient outcomes, and also improve the hospital’s financial bottom line.
This is a good resource.
References:
OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration). Worker Safety in Hospitals.
https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hospitals/index.html
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