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A New Computerized Graphical Safety Interface for 2008
[By Staff Reporters]
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS] in 2001, the nation’s hospitals reported 293,600 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses to their personnel.
Hospital Injury Rates High
Among US industries with 100,000 or more injuries and illnesses, hospitals have the second highest rate of nonfatal injury or illness cases. Only eating and drinking places have more injuries and illnesses. The incidence rate for hospitals is 9.2 injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers. The incident rate for industry as a whole is 6.1 injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers. During October 2000 through September 2001, OSHA performed 103 inspection activities in SIC code 806-Hospitals. The most frequently sited violations were bloodborne pathogens, lockout/tagout, and hazard communication.
Introducing Hospital eTool from OSHA
OSHA is now providing a new computerized graphical, known as eTool, to help healthcare entities and employers identify and address potential occupational hazards in hospitals. This will be done through a comprehensive safety and health program approach.
Assessment
eTool will help employers in developing and implementing engineering and work practice controls which comply with OSHA requirements and can be incorporated into a health facility’s safety and health plan to reduce the hazards of hospital work and improve worker safety. eTool addresses the following areas:
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Emergency and Engineering
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Heliport and Housekeeping
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ICU and Laboratories
More: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/scope.html
Conclusion
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OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:
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- HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
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- ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
- FINANCE: Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
- INSURANCE: Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors
- Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance
- Dictionary of Health Information Technology and Security
- Dictionary of Health Insurance and Managed Care
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Filed under: Information Technology, Quality Initiatives, Research & Development, Risk Management | Tagged: eTool, OSHA |
The Leading Business Education Network for Doctors, Financial Advisors and Health Industry Consultants 
Verification Might Spur HIT and OSHA Initiatives,
I believe that if medical providers adopted a set of common practices used for validating the identity of online consumers, not only would our records be safer, it’s more likely that Personal Health Record [PHR], and related other HIT initiatives, would become more popular with all patients, and safer.
Of course, the use of “knowledge-based authentication systems” – a security method that uses one’s knowledge of facts only they should know – to establish identity is vital. In addition, confirmed identities managed by reliable third-parties, such as financial institutions, should also be included in the security-mix.
Naturally, the devil-is-in-the-details, and who among us can define a ”reliable third party”, with the daily barrage of security breaches coming at us at increasingly faster rates.
Nevertheless, hospital rules and regulations mandated by both the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as the Patriot Act for MSAs/HSAs might be satisfied in this manner, as well as OSHA related HIT initiatives.
But, that’s just my opinion.
Keep up the thought-leadership.
George
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OSHA and Infection Control,
As a former quality care nurse manager, hand washing is second to none in controlling infections rates in hospitals. The OSHA standards require that hand washing facilities be readily available to employees. Hand washing facilities means a facility providing an adequate supply of:
• running potable water;
• antiseptic soap; and
• single-use disposable towels or hot air drying machines.
The hand washing facilities must be located where the employee will have easy access. This will ensure that the employee will be likely to use the hand washing facility and will minimize the time that the contamination will remain in contact with the employee.
In those instances where the provision of hand washing facilities is not feasible, either an appropriate antiseptic hand cleaner (e.g., alcohol-based rinse, antiseptic foam, or antiseptic-impregnated paper wipes) in conjunction with clean cloth or paper towels, or antiseptic towelettes, must be provided.
When using antiseptic hand cleansers or towelettes, the hands must be washed with soap and running water as soon as feasible. Not only must the employer provide the hand washing facilities, he or she must also ensure that employees in fact do wash their hands immediately or as soon as feasible following contact with blood or OPIM.
The employee must also wash his or her hands immediately after removal of gloves or other PPE. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that hand washing occurs. OSHA states that hand washing must be strictly enforced by the employer [29 C.F.R. 1910.1030(d)(2)(vi).]
Remember, despite all the technology hoopla, this simple step saves lives, and money.
Hope Rachel Hetico; RN, MHA, CMP
Managing Editor
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