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Preventing foodborne illness is important for everyone. However, when cooking for others, especially senior citizens and those who are ill, you must exercise extreme caution. With about 48 million cases of foodborne illness occurring every year in the United States, food contamination may seem very difficult to prevent. However, by following these safety tips, you can ensure food safety and prevent foodborne illness at your facility. 

Safety Steps

Safe steps in food handling, cooking and storage are essential to preventing foodborne illness. You typically cannot see, smell or taste harmful bacteria that can cause illness. Keep food safe in every step of preparation:

•          Wash hands and surfaces often.

•          Separate foods to avoid cross-contamination.

•          Cook foods to the proper temperatures.

•          Refrigerate leftovers promptly.

Food Handling Guidelines

•          Refrigerate or freeze all perishable food items. The refrigerator should be set at 40° F or less and the freezer set at 0° F or less.

o    Check the temperatures with a thermometer designated for these appliances.

•          Always thaw food in the refrigerator or under cold water, never sitting out at room temperature.

•          Wash cutting boards and cooking utensils immediately with soap and hot water after contact with raw meats to prevent bacterial contamination.

•          Do not leave perishable foods sitting out for more than two hours.

o    If the room temperature is above 90° F, do not leave foods out for more than one hour.

•          If food is cooked, but will not be served for more than two hours, keep it in the oven at 140° F and cover with foil.

•          Discard canned foods that are dented, seeping or bulging.

•          Do not use packages that are torn or open.

•          Poultry and meat is only good in the refrigerator for one to two days.

•          Keep seafood in the refrigerator or freezer until right before use.

•          Throw out foods with any sign of mold growth.

•          Never store food near cleaning products or chemicals.

•          Store condiments such as ketchup, mayonnaise and dressing in the refrigerator after opening.     

© 2007-2010, 2013, 2018 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved

Sheets, towels, gowns, blankets and other washable items used in health care facilities often come in contact with body fluids that can be dangerous for those who wash them. Contaminated and soiled linens can carry diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis.

If you’re handling or washing laundry items during the course of your workday, take note of the following safety precautions that are designed to help you prevent accidental exposure.

Handling Tips

·         Touch the laundry as little as possible with your hands.

·         If you notice that linens are soiled, bag them separately in the location where they were used, instead of mixing them with other linens to be sorted later.

·         Place wet, contaminated laundry in a leak-proof, color-coded bag (usually red) and/or container.

o    This container should have a bio-hazard symbol on it to designate the laundry as dangerous and containing human excretions.

·         Hold contaminated laundry bags as far away from the body as possible and avoid squeezing the bag excessively because it may cause puncturing.

o    Seal the bag tightly to avoid leakage.

o    Use carts or laundry chutes designated for soiled linens to transport the bags.

Washing Tips

·         Do not wash soiled linens with non-soiled laundry.

·         If some of the items you will be washing are soiled, never wash them with other items of the same kind unless they are also soiled. Combining sheets, towels or gowns is appropriate when soiled, but never combine a non-soiled gown with a soiled one simply to wash like items together.

·         Use hot water to clean and disinfect soiled laundry.

o    Cycle should be at least 25 minutes long and water should be at least 160° F.

o    Use chlorine bleach for added disinfecting power.

o    Add a mild acid to neutralize the alkalinity in the tub to disinfect the linens.

·         Only combine like items after they have been properly washed and disinfected. 

© 2009-2010, 2018 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved

Over six million injuries occur in the workplace every year. Sprains, strains and tears to muscles and connective tissues are some of the most common injuries employees experience.

Sprains and strains can result from lifting injuries, being hit by fallen objects or even a simple misstep. Overusing your muscles can also cause these injuries. Protect yourself and others from these painful injuries by always practicing safety on the job.

Sprains

Sprains occur when a ligament has been stretched too far from its normal position. Sprains of the fingers, wrists, knees and ankles are most common.

Strains

Strains are the result of pulling too far on a muscle or by pulling a muscle in one direction while it is contracting. Strains can also be caused by repetitive movements that lead to an over-stretching of muscle fibers. Strains of the back, neck, groin and hamstring are most common.

Tips for Prevention

To help reduce your risk of sprains and strains while on the job, keep these tips in mind:

•          Follow ’s guidelines for safe lifting, especially if your position requires you to lift particularly heavy items.

•          If you are lifting something particularly heavy, use extreme caution. When in doubt, ask for help with the lift.

•          Reduce repetitive movements if possible; chronic strains are usually the result of overuse. 

•          Use proper form while completing tasks and avoid extensive gripping, which can increase the risk of hand and forearm strains.

•          Practice safety measures to help prevent falls. Avoid slippery surfaces.

•          Wear proper attire, including footwear, gloves and other applicable protective equipment.

•          Consider your posture when sitting or standing for long periods of time; maintain an overall relaxed position.

•          Maintain a healthy fitness level outside of work to keep your body strong and flexible.

•          Stretch before you begin working, and take short breaks throughout the day to stretch and rebalance your body.

If you have any questions or concerns about sprains or strains, do not hesitate to contact your supervisor.

Often attributed as a partial cause of the ever-increasing cost of health care, medical malpractice claims are a common, and costly, risk faced by health care providers. However, according to recent research, technological developments in the health care industry may be able to lower some of the risk of medical malpractice claims.

Studies have begun to track the effect that the use of electronic health record (EHR) systems has on preventing medical malpractice claims. EHRs allow doctors to quickly scan patients’ medical histories, giving them more background information, which leads to a more accurate diagnosis. It also means avoiding duplication of tests and negative reactions between medications. When all of this information is readily available, doctors and nurses can make better decisions about patient health. Better care means fewer mistakes, which in turn means fewer malpractice claims. The clear record they provide of a patient’s treatment history also makes EHRs useful in defending against a medical malpractice claim if one is filed.

Additional Benefits

EHRs may be able to do more than just help prevent claims, they may also get you a lower rate from your insurer. If study results continue to confirm the connection between EHRs and lowered occurrences of medical malpractice claims, insurers may start offering discounts to facilities that implement such systems.

Going beyond the realm of malpractice claims, EHRs also offer a number of other benefits to both your staff and patients. Once implemented, EHRs can streamline many of your existing processes. Charts no longer need to be physically moved from one location to another. With a few clicks, patient information can be brought up anywhere in your facility instantly. This kind of quick access to patient information means information stays up to date and is always on hand. This not only makes life easier on staff members, it also means that patients get high-quality, efficient care.

Implementation

Even though EHRs can simplify operations and save money in the long run, the investment of time and money that is required to switch to a new system deters some health care providers. However, the switch to EHRs may soon be unavoidable. Recently there has been an increased focus on EHR implementation by federal regulators. Fortunately, with the push for a more broad adoption of the technology comes a potential increase in available government funding to help health care providers make the switch.

When you make the decision to transition from paper records to an electronic system, there will be a learning period that goes along with the implementation process. The full benefit of EHRs cannot be realized unless employees are properly trained in how to use them. If systems are poorly implemented, they will not generate the positive returns they are capable of.

Adopting EHRs takes an initial commitment from you and you staff, but in the long run, they can simplify operations and save money all while helping you provide the best possible care to your patients.

 © 2011 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.

Workplace violence in the health care industry has been declining, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely absent from hospitals and other medical clinics. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost half of non-fatal injuries from occupational assaults and violence occur in health care and social services settings.

Who is most at risk? Statistics indicate that nurses were the most likely victims of assault, most of which are committed by a patient on an employee. Other assaults occurred between a stranger and an employee, and between two or more former or current co-workers. Given the risks, there is an imperative need for health care facilities to establish violence prevention policies to protect their employees.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), health care facilities should instill a violence prevention program as part of their larger safety and health program. This program serves to reduce the severity and frequency of injuries that employees face, track the facility’s progress in reducing violence and decrease the threat of violence to employees’ safety. Specifically, the program:

·         Outlines a clear policy detailing that violence including verbal and nonverbal threats, will not be tolerated in the workplace

·         Eliminates the chance that individuals would seek revenge on an employee for reporting violence

·         Encourages employees to report violent acts quickly

·         Outlines a plan to maintain safety in the workplace

·         Explains management concerns for employee physical and emotional health

·         The goal of such a program is to guarantee that:

·         Employees comply with and support a violence-free workplace

·         Employees feel comfortable reporting violence

Training

When designing violence prevention programs, orchestrate prevention training that is mandatory for all employees. According to OSHA, training is a key element in violence prevention, as the employees receive extensive information about how to conduct themselves in the workplace in the event of violence. They are also formally warned about the no-tolerance policy, in the event that they feel like instigating a fight down the road. Essentially, the intentions of the facility are made extremely clear in the training session.

In addition, by getting to know staff members who are part of the violence prevention initiative, employees may feel more comfortable reporting injuries or threats in the event that they occur. The training may include:

·         An explanation of the violence policy and program initiatives

·         Encouragement to report threats or violent incidents

·         Tactics for preventing or reducing hostile situations, conflict or anger

·         Ways to manage anger

·         Suggestions for how to resolve conflicts without violence

·         Suggestions for how to reduce stress and relax

·         Outlining the security procedures for the facility

·         Self-defense tips

·         Ways to assist a victim in need of support

Facility Analysis

OSHA also recommends that a health care facility conduct an analysis of records, security measures and trends regarding violence. By doing an analysis, management can identify the recurring threats to their employees, security breaches of any kind and ways to protect their employees in the future. Health care facilities are particularly hazardous, according to OSHA, because of the following:

·         Medications and money available in the pharmacy area (robbery target)

·         Employees must work evenings in potentially high crime areas

·         Employees are exposed to sometimes violent, mentally unstable patients

·         Patients may be uncooperative or combative at times

·         Rooms may contain furniture or items that could potentially be used as a weapon against employees

After conducting an analysis of the facility, management should instill additional safety controls, including:

·         Increase lighting in high risk areas such as patient rooms, isolated treatment areas or outside the facility

·         Install metal detectors to alert security staff if patrons are bringing guns or knives into the facility

·         Install plexiglass windows around the pharmacy check-out window to minimize the threat of theft

·         Use safety devices such as alarms, panic buttons, cameras, two-way mirrors, key-card access systems and hire security personnel

·         Install curved mirrors at hallway intersections

·         Train staff on how to recognize hostile situations and behavior

·         Increase staffing in the evenings or in places where patients may become violent

·         Encourage employees to carpool so they arrive and depart in groups

·         Provide a complimentary shuttle service or security guards to escort employees out of the building

·         Explain the zero tolerance policy for violence to patients

·         Have relationships with the local police and alert them of the emergency action plans in the event of violence

·         Gather previous records of patients to determine if they pose threats to employees

·         Design a program to deal with violent and combative patients including:

o    Arrange furniture in such a way to prevent the staff from becoming trapped in the room

o    Place minimal, lightweight furniture in the rooms without any sharp corners

o    Affix the furniture to the floor

o    Remove excess clutter from the rooms, especially items on countertops that could be used as weapons

o    Make sure that there is a second exit in patient rooms for employees in the event that the patient becomes violent

o    Require that employees implement a buddy system when treating high-risk patients so they are never alone

Response to Violence

In the event that a violent act is committed in the facility, employees need a supportive management staff to rely on to get through the trying time. To ensure that employees receive the support they need, the health care facility should establish a response team to deal with the situation.

This team is responsible for providing medical care for the injured employee(s) and counseling after the fact.

OSHA also requires that facilities fill out an OSHA Form 300 within eight hours of the incident to document all work-related injuries if three or more employees were hospitalized. By documenting violence, OSHA and the facility can determine the severity of the incident and determine how the situation can be prevented in the future.

Remember that it is the facility’s responsibility to take steps to protect its employees from violence and maintain a safe working environment. 

This Risk Insights is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel or an insurance professional for appropriate advice. © 2007-2010, 2014 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.