The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) recently created a website aimed at promoting the safety of hospital employees.
The website calls hospitals “one of the most hazardous places to work,” more dangerous than the “relatively hazardous” manufacturing and construction industries. Leaving aside OSHA’s hyperbole, it is true that U.S. hospitals recorded over 253,000 work-related illnesses and injuries in 2011 alone—nearly twice the rate occurring in private industry and amounting to 6.8 work-related illnesses or injuries for every 100 full-time employees. Moreover, a staggering 32.7 percent of recorded injuries to hospital employees involved interactions with patients.
In response to its safety concerns, OSHA has introduced resources aimed at “understanding the problem,” managing “safety and health” systems, and “safe patient handling.” OSHA calls for hospitals to consider implementing a “comprehensive, proactive safety and health management system” to find and fix workplace hazards. Resources — including assessments — appear on the website as a means to encourage hospitals to take active measures to prevent future illnesses and injuries, as well as develop policies, procedures, programs, training and education opportunities in furtherance of that goal.
The DOL also has a “Hospital eTool” with links to Clinical Services, Surgical, ICU, Administration, Dietary, Laboratory, and Pharmacy, among other areas. The site identifies hazards and solutions specific to the above-mentioned areas, as well as provides safety and health tips for hospitals and employees to consider.
Bottom Line
OSHA has expressed interest in aiding hospitals in reducing the hazards faced by their employees. It may also mean that hospitals will face increased scrutiny by the Agency to determine if hospitals are taking enough steps to reduce the hazards pointed out on the OSHA website.
Felhaber’s OSHA team—Marnie Fearon, Ryan Olson, Rich Voelbel, and Brad Kolling—will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as they become available.