OSHA PILOT INTERVENTION PROJECT: REDUCING WORKPLACE INJURIES IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY Healthcare Worker Protection Seminar OSHA Region VI and The University of Texas at Arlington
Welcome Dean Wingo, Assistant Regional Administrator Lisa London, Executive Director, UT Arlington
Stakeholder Meeting at UTA May 3, 2012 More than 50 participants gathered to help identify major drivers influencing the high rate of injury and illness, brainstorm ways to mitigate occupational hazards in the health care industry, and embark on activities that would measurably reduce the rate of injury and illness for healthcare support workers.
OSHA News Release November 9, 2011 The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics released detailed data on nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work in 2010. The incidence rate for health care support workers increased 6 percent to 283 cases per 10,000 fulltime workers, almost 2 1/2 times the rate for all private and public sector workers at 118 cases per 10,000 full-time workers.
OSHA News Release November 9, 2011 The rate among nursing aides, orderlies and attendants rose 7 percent, to 489 per 10,000 workers. Additionally, the rate of musculoskeletal disorder cases with days away from work for nursing aides, orderlies and attendants increased 10 percent to a rate of 249 cases per 10,000 workers.
OSHA Assistant Secretary David Michaels: It is unacceptable that the workers who have dedicated their lives to caring for our loved ones when they are sick are the very same workers who face the highest risk of work-related injury and illness. These injuries can end up destroying a family's emotional and financial security.
OSHA Assistant Secretary David Michaels: While workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities take an enormous toll on this nation's economy the toll on injured workers and their families is intolerable. The rates of injuries and illnesses among hospital and health care workers underscore OSHA's concern about the safety and health of these workers.
A Problem While some industries are safer now than a decade ago, overall injury and illness rates of hospital workers are rising. The problem was highlighted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in their most recent annual report. This has drawn the attention of Healthcare Worker Unions and Workers Compensation Insurance Companies.
Texas Compared to Nationwide 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 Year 5 Year 10 Year 3 2 1 0 Nationwide All Industry Total Recordables TX Hospital Total Recordables Nationwide Hospital Total Recordables Data Source: BLS.GOV
Most Common Workplace Injury Events in Healthcare (2010) Overexertion Contact with Objects Falls on Same Level Assaults Slips, trips without Falls Exposure to Harmful Substance Falls to Lower Level BLS.GOV
We Need Your Input By working together we can achieve common goals! Help us answer these questions: Why are the injury/illness rates rising? How can we approach the problem? How can we help?
Stakeholder Meeting at UTA May 3, 2012 Identify major drivers influencing the high rate of injury and illness Brainstorm ways to mitigate occupational hazards in the health care industry Embark on activities that would measurably reduce the rate of injury and illness for healthcare support workers.
Five Questions 1. What safety and health problems are you seeing most in your organization? 2. What best practices have you implemented or seem implemented to address the safety and health hazards for employees in your industry?
Four Questions 3. What are the policy and procedure gaps influencing the safety and health of employees in your industry? 4. What steps could be taken to bridge those gaps? 5. What is the role of training to improve the work environment?
Common Safety and Health Issues Musculoskeletal Disorders Needle Sticks Patient Handling Slips, Trips, Falls Workplace Violence Aging Workforce Stress / Fatigue Fire Code / Facilities Communicable Diseases Bloodborne Pathogens Fatigue
Bridging the Policy and Procedure Gap Increased visibility of the issue OSHA Guidance Documents targeting administrators Staff education and safety committees Community Standard of Care Collaboration across competitors (maybe through associations)
Next Steps Advisory Board and Project Teams Conferences and Training OSHA e-tools and Guidance Documents Work with CMS Accountable Care Organization and HHS.
Resources OSHA Website: UTA Website: www.osha.gov www.uta.edu/ded Hospital e-tool: www.osha.gov/sltc/etools/hospital/index.html UTA OSHA Education Center Blog: http://utaosha.blogspot.com/
Introductions Name Organization Location Your Role