O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5 O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T 6 5
the floor, will keep them taut and secure. Retractable cord holders can also help
to manage the clutter.
When we remodeled our ORs, we also took the flooring itself under consider-
In a 2011 study on the haz-
ards of the healthcare work-
place, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention's
National Institute for
Occupational Safety and
Health reported that most on-
the-job injuries resulted from
slips, trips and falls, often
times causing back injuries
(osmag.net/9EKkrT). The report recommended
the following measures in the name of employee
safety.
• Well-documented housekeeping procedures
• Proper, safety-oriented floor
cleaning practices
• Warning signs and absorbent mats for spills
• Available and accessible cleanup materials
• Slip-resistant shoe requirements for
employees
• Sufficient lighting to see surroundings and
potential hazards
• Organized storage to eliminate cluttered
work areas, corridors and
walkways
• Cord covers, organizers,
or mounts to prevent
loose, exposed, tangled
cables underfoot
In another, earlier study,
the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics calculated that the
incidence rate of lost-workday
injuries from slips, trips and falls among hospital
workers was about 38 per 10,000 employees,
which was nearly twice as high as the average
rate of all other private industries combined (20
per 10,000 employees).
Slips, trips and falls can cause sprains, bruises,
lacerations, concussions, fractures and other
potential injuries. They can also hurt your facility
and the patient care it delivers through reduced
productivity, impaired working ability and expen-
sive worker compensation claims and litigation.
— David Bernard
FIRM FOOTING
The CDC's Steps Toward Safer Workspaces
z CRACK DOWN
A federal report
highlighted
healthcare work-
place hazards and
solutions.
