Safety and Ergonomics for Extended Care Facilities

Course Development Team Mike Rienerth, Ergonomics Consultant, BWC Mike Donohue, Safety Consultant, BWC Greg Nartker, Ergonomics Consultant, BWC George Kunz, Safety Consultant, BWC Rick Hughes, Manager of Occupational Safety & Health, Ohio Masonic Homes Mel Tobias, Safety Compliance Manager, Sprenger Retirement Centers Marty Grant, Curriculum Designer, BWC

BWC - Safety & Hygiene Services Consultative services to assist with safety, ergonomics, and occupational health issues Already paid for through WC premiums Non–regulatory; no enforcement power No reporting to enforcement agencies

“Extended-care facilities” include: Nursing homes Mental health facilities Full-time care facilities Long-term care facilities Other? Definition

COURSE OBJECTIVES Gain a better appreciation for the benefits of an effective safety & health process Learn about tools and resources that can be used to enhance safety management systems Review common OSHA compliance requirements for extended care facilities

COURSE OBJECTIVES Learn about tools and resources that can be used to assist with OSHA compliance Review common ergonomic issues and control measures for extended care facilities Discuss management strategies that can assist in the implementation of safety and ergonomics improvements

What are your objectives? Introduce yourself –Name –Occupation –Facility Mention one of your objectives for attending this course

Key Questions Who is responsible for safety at your facility? Who is accountable for safety performance at your facility?

Regulatory Compliance Ohio Department of Health (ODH) –Resident safety Joint Commission for Accreditation of Health Organizations (JCAHO) –Resident safety Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) –Staff safety

OSHA 5(a)(1) – General Duty Clause 1970 OSH Act Each employer shall furnish… a workplace free of recognized hazards…

OSHA Recordable Injury/Illness Incidence Rates

What is Your Facility’s OSHA Recordable Incidence Rate? IR =# of OSHA Recordables x 200,000 # of exposure hours (hrs. worked) The IR represents the number of OSHA recordable injuries/illnesses per 100 full time workers over a given period of time

Days Away, Restricted and/or Transferred (DART Rate) (BLS)

Estimate your Experience Type of injuryYour percentagePossible Causes Overexertion Slips/Falls Contact with Struck by Caught in/on or between

Types of Injuries in EC Facilities

Money Matters What does your facility currently pay? Workers’ compensation coverage Healthcare insurance Liability insurance Property insurance Other

What are the Costs of an Ineffective Safety Process? The average cost for a medical only injury in Ohio is $800 The average cost for a lost-time injury in Ohio is $44,000 (medical + indemnity + reserves) Average workers’ comp premiums for a base rated 100-bed facility are about $160,000/year Average workers’ comp premiums for a group rated 100-bed facility are about $80,000/year

Average Annual Workers’ Comp Premiums for EC Facilities Experience Modifier (EM)

Employer Rating Plan History Payroll period beginning date Payroll period ending date Experience rateEmployer rating plan 7/1/200412/31/200444%GROUP 7/1/200312/31/200357%GROUP 7/1/200212/31/200282%EXP 7/1/200112/31/ %EXP 7/1/200012/31/ %EXP 7/1/199912/31/ %EXP 7/1/199812/31/ %EXP 7/1/199712/31/ %EXP

What are Some Other Costs of an Ineffective Safety Process? 10 to 20% of people leave the nursing profession due to injury Average turnover rate of STNAs in nursing homes is 50-60% Average cost to recruit, hire, and train a STNA = $2,000 - $ 3,000 The average cost of OSHA citations for HC facilities is approximately $10,000 to $15,000 per inspection

Iceberg Analogy Accident Cost Medical Payments Compensation Supervisor time to investigate Breaking in substitute Poor efficiency due to break-up of crew Damaged equipment Administrative costs Temporary workers Loss of good will Overtime by employees Change in WC rating Lost time by fellow workers Direct Costs Indirect or Hidden Costs

What motivates safety activities in your facility?

The Benefits Safety & Ergonomics Process The Benefits Compliance and hazard prevention Reduced injuries and lost time Lower worker compensation costs Lower absenteeism and turnover Better employee relations and morale Better Quality Care!

Strengths and Weaknesses What is one thing that your facility does well to ensure staff safety? What is one thing that you feel your facility needs to address to improve staff safety?

Elements of an Effective Safety & Ergonomics Process  Management Commitment  Employee Involvement  Accountability  Documentation  Integration  Communication  Monitoring/Evaluation  Flexibility  Continuous Improvement