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Commitment to Workplace Safety as High Priority and Through Role Modeling						Print
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										Physician explaining patient care to group of residents/interns.Photo by Getty Images
A High Reliability Organization (HRO) is an organization that operates and manages processes with the potential to adversely affect human life or the environment (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2010). In healthcare, HROs strive to create systems and processes that prevent errors or mitigate their impact (The Joint Commission, 2012).
High reliability means consistent excellence in quality and safety across all services maintained over long periods of time. *The Joint Commission*® has constructed a high reliability framework that healthcare organizations can use to work toward the ultimate goal of zero harm which includes (Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare, 2022):
**Leadership committed to the goal of zero harm.**
**An organizational safety culture where all staff can speak up about things that would negatively impact the organization.**
**An empowered workforce that employs robust process improvement tools to address the improvement opportunities they find and drive significant and lasting change.**HROs have systems in place that proactively accomplish their goal of avoiding long shift hours that can lead to patient and worker injuries. They are committed to worker safety and open communication, avoiding events in a blame-free environment where workers may report incidents without fear of reprisals (The Joint Commission, 2021).
**Establish HRO principles that underscore a safe environment of care:**
Demonstrate knowledge about safe patient handling and mobility and its value to maintaining a safe working environment.
Invest in technology and resources that replace unsafe practices with safe practices (e.g., ceiling lifts and floor-based and air lateral transfer devices).
Communicate and model safety from the top down such as nurse executives and facility safety managers ensuring staff accountability for supporting a safe environment of care.
Utilize the input of staff and their experiences with best practices such as with respiratory protection and sharps handling [Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 2013] (e.g., employee/management safety committees).PreviousNext
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  October 3, 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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