Part 4: Occupational and Environmental Safety
Occupational and Environmental Safety Assessment
An occupational and environmental safety assessment focuses on the work environment of the medical office that can potentially cause harm, injury or illness to the staff.Performing this type of an assessment can be used to prevent, eliminate and reduce workplace hazards that directly relate to exposures blood or body fluids, hazardous or chemical spills or exposure, medical equipment failure or malfunction, risks of physical injury, security threats, fires or any other unsafe work condition.
In addition to performing an assessment, an excellent resource for safety is the Medical Office Survey Toolkit which initiates open office dialog about patient safety and quality issues among providers and staff.
Safety policies should reflect the use of universal precautions (visit www.cdc.gov for more information) for the prevention of blood and body fluid exposures. Universal precautions are designed to prevent the transmission of HIV, HBV or any other blood-borne infectious diseases in a healthcare setting.
Universal Precautions include:
By law (visit www.osha.gov for more information), employees that work with or near chemicals or other hazardous materials are required to receive proper training to handle a chemical spill or leak. Information should be communicated to the medical office staff regarding the proper safety measures for use, storage and disposal of all hazardous materials.
Many procedures are being performed in the medical office the require the use of medical equipment.This makes it important to perform regular inspections and maintenance of equipment as part of the office policies and procedures. Failure to develop written policies and procedures for medical office equipment regarding its use and maintenance can lead to equipment failure or malfunction.
To prevent injury:
Preventing physical injuries requires a thorough analysis of the medical office.Although, you may not reach 100% prevention, the rate of physical injury can be substantially reduced by asking the following questions.
No one should be subjected to unsafe work conditions.Security threats can be scary for staff, patients and visitors.Depending on the type of incident, direct medical office staff to dial 911 for any or all of the following:
Remember to include these simple procedures in your fire safety policy.
The R.A.C.E. Procedure
Remove patients from danger
Activate the alarm and dial 911
Close doors and window
Extinguish fire
To extinguish the fire, use The P.A.S.S. Procedure
Pull the pin
Aim the nozzle
Squeeze the trigger
Sweep from side to side
Staff should be encouraged to report any information when safety concerns are suspected no matter how insignificant they think it may be.Creating and maintaining a safe work environment should be done on a regular basis.The medical office must proactively manage and support the safety policy in order to protect their staff from occupational and environmental hazards.
An occupational and environmental safety assessment focuses on the work environment of the medical office that can potentially cause harm, injury or illness to the staff.Performing this type of an assessment can be used to prevent, eliminate and reduce workplace hazards that directly relate to exposures blood or body fluids, hazardous or chemical spills or exposure, medical equipment failure or malfunction, risks of physical injury, security threats, fires or any other unsafe work condition.
In addition to performing an assessment, an excellent resource for safety is the Medical Office Survey Toolkit which initiates open office dialog about patient safety and quality issues among providers and staff.
•Blood and Body Fluid Precautions
Safety policies should reflect the use of universal precautions (visit www.cdc.gov for more information) for the prevention of blood and body fluid exposures. Universal precautions are designed to prevent the transmission of HIV, HBV or any other blood-borne infectious diseases in a healthcare setting.
Universal Precautions include:
- Always wash hands thoroughly before and after each patient contact. WASH HANDS IMMEDIATELY UPON CONTACT WITH BLOOD OR BODY FLUIDS
- Always wear disposable gloves
- Always properly dispose of contaminated materials in properly labeled red bags
- Never recap used needles. To avoid needle-sticks, dispose of needles in a properly labeled puncture resistant container
- Always report exposures or contamination immediately
•Chemical Safety
By law (visit www.osha.gov for more information), employees that work with or near chemicals or other hazardous materials are required to receive proper training to handle a chemical spill or leak. Information should be communicated to the medical office staff regarding the proper safety measures for use, storage and disposal of all hazardous materials.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): This includes safety goggles, appropriate gloves and lab coats.
- Proper Labeling: Hazardous materials should be never be placed in a unlabeled container. All materials should be listed on a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)and be regularly updated.
- Follow Manufactures Guidelines: Use appropriate method for disposal, contact to eyes or skin, or spills.
•Medical Equipment Failure or Malfunction
Many procedures are being performed in the medical office the require the use of medical equipment.This makes it important to perform regular inspections and maintenance of equipment as part of the office policies and procedures. Failure to develop written policies and procedures for medical office equipment regarding its use and maintenance can lead to equipment failure or malfunction.
To prevent injury:
- All staff must be properly trained in the use of all equipment.
- Equipment must only be used by staff for the purpose of performing their job.
- All equipment must be tagged with the inspection date, the due date of the next inspection and the inspectors initials.
- In the event of failure or malfunction, immediately tag "OUT OF SERVICE"
•Physical Injuries
Preventing physical injuries requires a thorough analysis of the medical office.Although, you may not reach 100% prevention, the rate of physical injury can be substantially reduced by asking the following questions.
- What are potential hazards?
- How might someone be at risk for injury?
- What injuries might result from the hazard?
- How likely could the hazard lead to injury?
- What can be done to prevent or correct hazards?
- Are there certain behaviors that can contribute to the hazard?
- Lack of or inadequate training
- Lack of safety policy/procedures
- Lack of regular inspections
- Lack of disciplinary actions/process
- Lack of staff input or recommendations
•Security Threats
No one should be subjected to unsafe work conditions.Security threats can be scary for staff, patients and visitors.Depending on the type of incident, direct medical office staff to dial 911 for any or all of the following:
- Disorderly conduct
- Suspicious activity
- Theft to personal or business property
- Verbal threats
- Weapons possession
- Assault
- Any crime committed against person or property
•Fire Safety
Remember to include these simple procedures in your fire safety policy.
The R.A.C.E. Procedure
Remove patients from danger
Activate the alarm and dial 911
Close doors and window
Extinguish fire
To extinguish the fire, use The P.A.S.S. Procedure
Pull the pin
Aim the nozzle
Squeeze the trigger
Sweep from side to side
Staff should be encouraged to report any information when safety concerns are suspected no matter how insignificant they think it may be.Creating and maintaining a safe work environment should be done on a regular basis.The medical office must proactively manage and support the safety policy in order to protect their staff from occupational and environmental hazards.
