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What Workers Can Do						Print
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										While many workplaces strive to provide safe work environments, the dynamic and unpredictable nature of healthcare settings can create situations where workers may be concerned for their health or safety.  There are steps that workers can take to address these situations with their immediate supervisor and others in their organization (NIOSH, 2019).
**Know your rights**
The OSH Act of 1970 and OSHA Standards and Guidelines protect workers from job hazards. Employers must provide a safe and healthy workplace, training, and necessary personal protective equipment.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal workplace discrimination laws and its website provides advice and guidance about protecting workers from discrimination and harassment at work: Laws & Guidance | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov)
Many states have laws regarding refusing a patient assignment or other duties in healthcare settings.**Address unsafe situations at work**
Follow the chain of command if there is a work safety issue and notify your immediate supervisor as soon as possible.
Before speaking to your supervisor, identify the exact problem. Be polite, respectful, and factual. Do not use accusatory terms.**Document your concerns**
Document concerns in writing, which could be an email to yourself or a Word document to use later.
Factually describe any unsafe conditions as soon as possible and include locations, dates, and times.
Factually describe conversation(s) with your supervisor including any advice given and how the problem was addressed or resolved.**Report unsafe work conditions**
Utilize anonymous safety concern reporting mechanisms available through hospitals and institutional occupational health clinics.
State or territorial professional boards or organizations, unions, or other worker advocacy organizations may provide remedy sources.
Contact applicable state or federal organizations for help, if necessary.PreviousNext
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  April 28, 2022						Source: 	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
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        Syndicate homeSafety Culture in Healthcare Settings
Training Informationplus icon
Introduction
Module 1: Safety Cultureplus icon
Why a Culture of Safety is Important
The Sociotechnical Model
Definition Examples of Safety Culture and Overlap with Safety Climate
Key Attributes and Joint Benefits of Safety Culture
Common Features of Positive Healthcare Worker Safety Culture
General Measurable Elements of a Safety Culture
Tools to Measure Safety Culture and Climate
A Snapshot of Safety Culture in U.S. Hospitals
References
Quiz 1Module 2: Work-Related Risks and Hazardsplus icon
Biological Hazardsplus icon
Chain of Infection Components
Risk Factors of Biological Agents and Unsafe Practices
Chemical Hazards
Enviromechanical Hazards
Physical Hazards
Psychosocial Hazards
Hazard Assessment/Determination
Case Study
References
Quiz 2Module 3: Prevention and Control of Work-Related Injury and Illnessplus icon
Hierarchy of Controls
Elimination: Physically Remove the Hazard
Substitution and Engineering Controls
Administrative Controls: Change the Way People Work
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Protect the Worker with PPE
Donning and Doffing PPE: Proper Wearing, Removal, and Disposal
References
Quiz 3Module 4: Leadership and Safe Work Environmentsplus icon
Commitment to Workplace Safety as High Priority and Through Role Modeling
Policies and Procedures and Safe Patient Handling
Hazard Analysis and Safe Staffing Workloads
State-of-the-Art Training and Handling Patients
Engage Healthcare Worker Champions and Observe Work
Transparency, Training, and Staff Safety Rounds
References
Quiz 4Module 5: Legal-Ethical Considerations to Promote Safe Working Conditionsplus icon
The Occupational Safety and Health Act and OSHA Standards
OSHA Healthcare Standards
OSHA Hazard Communication Standard and OSHA Guidelines
What Workers Can Do
Ethics and Healthcare Worker Exposure Considerations
Ethical Principles
References
Quiz 5Safety Culture in Healthcare Settings: Resources Follow NIOSH Facebook
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YouTube
 NIOSH Homepage NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs
Contact NIOSH


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