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Module 5						Print
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										Gavel and stethoscopePhoto by Getty ImagesLegal-Ethical Considerations to Promote Safe Working Conditions
**Note: *If you must stop before the end of the course, be sure to remember the module number and section where you stop so you do not have to start the course from the beginning when returning.***
**Competency**: Identify employer and employee legal and ethical roles and responsibilities that promote and maintain safe working conditions.
**Objectives**:
Describe the Occupational Safety and Health Act as a legal framework for worker safety and health.Identify examples of important standards and guidelines related to the healthcare environment.Describe ethical principles that guide professional practice and give related examples.In the work environment, there are specific laws and standards such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogen Standard and the Respiratory Protection Standard that are designed to protect workers from work-related health hazards such as chemical and biological agent exposure. Having knowledge of laws, standards, and regulations regarding workplace safety and health can help the healthcare worker better understand employer and employee obligations for hazard prevention and control. In addition, OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health provide guidance documents that give excellent information related to specific topics such as workplace violence and handling hazardous drugs.
This training should not be construed as legal advice and is not intended to replace the need to seek legal counsel in any employment situation. Any perceived discrepancies between an authority as interpreted in this training’s summaries and the authorities themselves should be resolved in favor of the authorities (e.g., the actual law or standard).
Ethical concerns may arise in healthcare workplace environments. Ethical principles regarding workplace safety and health can provide valuable guidance in decision-making to safeguard healthcare workers in delivering effective practice.Module 4Next
							
					
							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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