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General Measurable Elements of a Safety Culture						Print
																Related Pages
										**The table below shows important measurable elements and responsive actions for each element.**
**Element**
**Element**
**Element**
**Action**
**Action**
**Action**
Communication Openness
**Element**
Communication Openness
Staff freely speak up if they see something that may cause harm.
**Action**
Staff freely speak up if they see something that may cause harm.
Frequency of Events Reported
**Element**
Frequency of Events Reported
Errors are caught, corrected, and reported before affecting the patient/worker.
**Action**
Errors are caught, corrected, and reported before affecting the patient/worker.
Handoffs and Transitions
**Element**
Handoffs and Transitions
Staff transfer information across work units and during shift changes.
**Action**
Staff transfer information across work units and during shift changes.
Management Support for Patient/Worker Safety
**Element**
Management Support for Patient/Worker Safety
Management provides and prioritizes a safety climate that promotes patient/worker safety.
**Action**
Management provides and prioritizes a safety climate that promotes patient/worker safety.
Non-punitive Response to Error
**Element**
Non-punitive Response to Error
Staff feel that their mistakes and event reports are not held against them.
**Action**
Staff feel that their mistakes and event reports are not held against them.
Organizational Learning
**Element**
Organizational Learning
Corrected errors lead to positive changes in work environment.
**Action**
Corrected errors lead to positive changes in work environment.
Overall Perceptions of Patient/Worker Safety
**Element**
Overall Perceptions of Patient/Worker Safety
Procedures and systems are good at preventing errors.
**Action**
Procedures and systems are good at preventing errors.
Staffing
**Element**
Staffing
Enough staff to handle the workload and work hours are appropriate.
**Action**
Enough staff to handle the workload and work hours are appropriate.
Teamwork Across and Within Units
**Element**
Teamwork Across and Within Units
Units cooperate and coordinate to provide the best care for patients and practice worker safety.
**Action**
Units cooperate and coordinate to provide the best care for patients and practice worker safety.
**(Institute for Healthcare Improvement, n.d.)**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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