OSHA To Focus on Healthcare Worker Safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced plans to crackdown on healthcare facilities in violation of its worker safety standards.

When most people think of dangerous jobs, healthcare probably doesn't come to mind. After all, conventional wisdom should lead you to believe that healthcare workers have a lower risk of sustaining a job-related injury or illness when compared to workers in other industries. But this isn't always the case, as many healthcare workers have a higher risk of injury due to the inherit nature of their jobs.

According to data released by OSHA, hospitals in the US recorded 6.4 work-related injuries and illness for every 100 full-time employees in 2013. That's up from 3.3 injuries and illnesses for every 100 employees in 2013, signaling a shift towards a more hazardous working environment for healthcare employees.

This begs the question: why are healthcare workers becoming injured so frequently? Many injuries pertaining to this industry are the result of poor patient handling. Nurses and doctors are often forced to physically move debilitated patients by themselves, without the use of any special equipment or machines. Lifting a patient the wrong way can cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) like lower back pain

"Safe patient handling programs can reduce injuries such as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Reducing injuries not only helps workers, but also will improve patient care and the bottom line. If your hospital is considering developing or refining a comprehensive safe patient handling program to protect workers and patients, having the right data, evidence, examples, and tools can help ensure success ," wrote the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

If OSHA can effectively encourage healthcare facilities to train their workers on the proper way to lift and handle patients, it could make a world of difference in injury rates. Far too many workers sustain injuries as a result of moving patients the wrong way. These injuries are easily avoided, however, by following proper lifting practices -- something OSHA hopes to encourage with its recent memo.

In an effort to reduce such injuries in the healthcare industry, OSHA has sent a memo to hospitals and nursing homes, informing them that inspections will cover potential MSD hazards caused by improper patient handling, as well as hazrds associated with blood-borne pathogens, workplace violence, slip-and-falls, and tuberculosis. If a healthcare facility is found in violation of these rules, it could be subject to a hefty fine.