Concerns

Safety Concerns and Protection in HIM

You are the Director of Health Information Management. You are required to do a safety review of your department which includes the equipment used and the office furniture.

1. Identify potential hazards in the department and develop a schedule when you will check on the performance of the equipment (scanners, fax machines, computer printers, etc.) to make sure these are being cleaned and checked on a regular basis. Include fire extinguishers, fire alarms, smoke detectors as well as locks on doors.

2. Identify that the furniture used is not ergonomically correct and you will need to recommend work stations and chairs that will be correct.

Hint: Include off-site or remote workers in this plan. Put your information in a report format that will be sent to the Safety Committee as an annual review for Health Information Management and serve as a Safety Plan for HIM.

Notes

Ergonomics in the Workplace

Read the article https://www.creativesupports.com/pages/what-is-ergonomics

Ergonomics is designing a job function to fit the worker so the work is safer and more efficient. Ergonomics is important because when you're doing a job and your body is stressed by an awkward position, extreme temperature, or repeated movement your musculoskeletal system is affected. Your body may begin to have symptoms such as fatigue, discomfort and pain which can be the first sign of a musculoskeletal disorder. A musculoskeletal disorder is a condition that affects your body's muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. They can develop over time or can occur immediately due to repeated movement.

The United States Department of Labor reported in 2011 that the industry with the highest musculoskeletal disorders with relation to lost time from work is health care. Employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for all workers. The OSHA law also prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who report unsafe working conditions.

Ergonomic Process

Implementing an ergonomic process has been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. The following are important elements of an ergonomic process:

Potentially Hazardous Chemicals

Exposure to potentially dangerous materials or chemicals is common in all healthcare facilities. It is managements responsibility to keep the workers informed of chemical agents with which they may come into contact. Items in a Health Information Management Department could include printer toner, cleaning solutions, correction fluid or other chemical agents. A Material Safety and Data Sheet (MSDS) should be posted in the work area and provide staff with information such as how to treat the employee if the chemical is ingested or gets on the skin or the eyes. If any spills or accidents occur it is the employee's responsibility to inform the supervisor.

Workplace Violence

No place or individual is immune from workplace violence today. The news media covers school shootings, disgruntle employees shooting coworkers, marital discord or depression and people suffering from mental health disorders all are contributing to workplace violence. Managers must be alert to all of these subjects and take preparation in keeping the staff educated on what should be done. Healthcare facilities have a safety officer and some have security staff that should be able to assist in training of preventive and protected measures.

Responsibility for A Safe Work Place

The responsibility for safety lies with every manager. The supervisor is the person in the area and must stress and remind employees of safe work habits. They may at times need to enforce these safe work habits. They need to remind employees to complete the paper work if they have an on-the-job injury so reporting is accurate and follow-up can be done on each and every complaint. Safety must be integrated in all policies, procedures, methods, practices, staff meetings, and directives so that accidents and incidents do not occur or are reduced in occurrence.

Developing a Safety and Health Program

One way management can be assured that rules and regulations are being followed is to develop a feedback system. This can be accomplished by walking around the working areas and observing. Management can also rely on oral or written reports of an inspection of the areas to be certain the work areas are free of potentially hazardous situations. Ideally, a combination of both personal observations and reports for employees work best.

The health care facility should have a safety and health program that follows the following steps:

1. Involve both management and employees in developing a safety and health plan.

2. Hold someone accountable for implementing the plan. This person must be given the resources to put the plan in place and held accountable for the intent of what is to be accomplished.

3. Determine the safety and health requirements for your work site. Each work site is different so determine what is needed in the Health Information Department.

4. Assess what workplace hazards exit. By understanding what exists can be prevented.

5. Correct hazards that exist.

6. Train employees in safety and health techniques. Make this training for all staff mandatory.

7. Develop the mind-set in employees that the organization is to be kept hazard-free. Employees are often the first to witness something that is not right. Establish a reporting system and emergency procedures. Schedule preventive maintenance on equipment.

8. Continually update and refine the program. Evaluate and update when needed.