Unit 1 Lesson 3: Your Own Safety Flashcards
Did you know that hospital workers face higher rates of workplace injury and illness than other hazardous jobs like construction and manufacturing?
It doesn’t seem like healthcare would be so dangerous, but if you think about it, most healthcare jobs involve physically interacting with patients and working with dangerous chemicals, biological pathogens, and sophisticated (but hazardous) equipment. Working with ill patients can also be emotionally stressful, so workers need to take care of their mental and spiritual health.
Not only will there be policies and procedures at your workplace that promote working safely, but also there is a federal government agency that specifically looks after worker health:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
What is OSHA
OSHA was created in 1970 as part of the Department of Labor, with the mission of assuring that workers did not have to choose between their jobs and their lives—improving worker safety with laws that employers must follow to make every workplace as safe as possible.
What does OSHA have
OSHA has lots of resources for workers and employers to research safe workplace practices, report safety violations, and request safety information about their workplaces.
Healthcare workers need to use good body mechanics, what is that
body mechanics—using body movements that are safe, efficient, and energy conserving.
There is a science that studies how people move and interact with their work environment:
Ergonomics
Proper body mechanics include
roper body mechanics include keeping your back straight while lifting, carrying loads close to your body, and avoiding lifting with your spine twisted.
what impact does ergonomics have
Ergonomics can design the workplace to fit the worker and help to adjust work practices before they can cause injuries.
