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6 Strategies for a Safer Hospital

 |  By Lena J. Weiner  
   July 14, 2014

Hospitals are among the most dangerous places to work and there are high costs associated with injured workers, but hospitals and health systems can strategically reduce the risk of injury to staff.

Despite the public image of hospitals being places of healing and health, those who work in them know they can be very dangerous places. Spills, slips, falls, exposure to dangerous chemicals and infectious diseases, musculoskeletal injury and the never-distant threat of workplace violence hover over hospitals.

"Nurses [are] the number one victim of workplace violence," says Marilyn Hollier, president of the International Association of Hospital Safety and Security.

But there are everyday dangers related to nursing as well. One study found that 64% of nurses report having been stuck by a needle at some point in their career.

And back injuries are common among nurses. Many "don't have access to lifting equipment," says Dawson. "Frequently, they must transfer patients manually, which can lead to musculoskeletal injuries." A 2012 study of nurses leaving the profession found that 12% cite chronic back pain as the main reason for quitting.

"Hospital administrators tend to focus on the financial repercussions of workplace injuries and forget the human cost. These are highly skilled healthcare workers, and they're losing their [jobs]," says Jaime Dawson, senior policy analyst at the American Nurses Association.

What she doesn't mention is the cost to hospitals who must recruit, hire, and train, new nurses to replace those lost to injury.

Making Hospitals Safer Places to Work
Nurses aren't the only ones at risk—janitorial staff and physical facilities workers are also among the most at-risk employees for a workplace injury. One of the greatest mistakes hospital administrators can make is not involving staff at every level of the organization in finding potential hazards—and solutions to make the campus a safer place.

For example, a security guard will notice a poorly lit, unsafe area, while a maintenance worker probably knows where the roof leaks.

Human resources leaders are in a unique position to help create safer environments in hospitals. "Collaboration is absolutely key," said Dawson. "It needs to involve every level in an organization. People at the top need to keep the doors open and welcome input from all employees."

Frequently, staff will go to HR with concerns about safety and security, and in turn, HR staffers can help encourage knowledge sharing between teams. And, when setting the organization's values, culture and policies, HR should strive to be the voice of safety.

Below are Hollier and Dawson's top tips for reducing risk to hospital employees:

1. Acknowledge that there's risk.
Because we associate hospitals with health and healing, it's easy to forget that the hospital setting can be very dangerous. "Really take a look at the work you do, the dangers that exist, and examine the data that exists. See what's really happening," suggests Dawson.

She also recommends looking at the number of accidents that have occurred in your facility and in hospitals in general. Be aware of the greatest risks facing hospitals and ready to for them.

2. Create a blame-free environment.
If employees feel like they can't report hazards without getting co-workers or themselves in trouble, they won't. Therefore, it is vital to foster an environment where the focus is on removing safety threats rather than pointing fingers.

When a potential danger comes to light, simply address the problem rather than punishing the offender, especially if they were unaware that they were creating a hazard.

3. Make safety and anti-violence training a priority.
Every employee, from the janitor to the CEO, should have a working knowledge of hospital safety steps. This is even more relevant to employees who are at risk. For example, nurses should be aware of how to prevent musculoskeletal injury, while front-line employees need to be trained to deescalate potentially violent situations.

"Invest in training programs so your employees can be more proactive, and give your leadership the tools and training to be successful [at preventing accidents]," Hollier recommends.

4. Check your facilities.
Talk to your employees—especially members of your janitorial, physical facilities and security teams—and ask them what needs better maintenance or general improvement. Is the lighting adequate in all areas? Are all of the staircases in good repair? Does your security team have all the resources they need?

"Involve your workers in selecting equipment. They're the ones who will be using it," says Dawson.

5. Have policies on the books that promote safety.
Address the process for safe staffing, and make sure employees are aware they have a right to refuse to perform tasks that might put their health or safety at risk. Keep a written statement of commitment to a culture of safety posted where all employees will see it. Dawson suggests making safety training a part of the onboarding process.

6. Debrief all injuries.
Sooner or later, despite everyone's hard work and caution, an on-the-job injury is inevitably going to take place. When that happens, Hollier urges a formal debriefing to examine the situation and look at how it can be prevented in the future. "Take that pregnant pause every time there's an injury. There's always an opportunity to learn from them and do better in the future."

Simply being aware that there is a very real risk of an accident or violence and formulating policies to try to prevent these things from happening is the most important step.

"It's safer to work in a hospital… where they know stuff can happen every day and are prepared for it—as opposed to a hospital… where people just don't realize that incidents happen and don't prepare for them," Hollier says.

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Lena J. Weiner is an associate editor at HealthLeaders Media.

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