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ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and
The Joint Commission
and
Joint Commission Resources (JCR)
August 29, 2007
I. Alliance Background
Date Signed
July 27, 2004
Date Renewed
November 8, 2006
Overview
The OSHA and The Joint Commission/JCR Alliance focuses on providing health care workers and others
with information, guidance, and access to training resources to help them protect employees' health
and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to biological and airborne hazards in
health care and addressing emergency preparedness, ergonomics, and workplace violence issues.
Implementation Team Members
| OSHA: |
|
Sandra Khan
Darla Royal
Don Wright |
Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA)
Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine (DSTM)
DSTM |
| |
|
| The Joint Commission: |
|
| Char Hill |
Special Assistant |
| |
|
| JCR: |
|
Cathy Hinckley
Karen Jay
Gina LaMantia
Chuck MacFarlane
Kristine Miller
Pam Steinbach |
Executive Director, Publications
Special Assistant to the CEO-JCR
Program Manager, Department of Education
Vice-President, Learning
Senior Editor, Publications
Interim Executive Director of Education, Conference Coordinator |
Evaluation Period
July 27, 2006 - July 26, 2007
II. Implementation Team Meetings
October 12, 2006
November 2, 2006
December 20, 2006
March 6, 2007
April 25, 2007 |
Meeting, OSHA, Washington, DC
Environment of CareŽ News Conference Call
Hospital eTool Conference Call
Hospital eTool Conference Call
Conference Meeting, OSHA, Washington, DC |
In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance Implementation Team members
from both groups maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor the
Alliance's progress and results.
III. Results
- Events and Products
Training and Education
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs targeted to health
care workers on topics including emergency preparedness, biological and airborne hazards, ergonomics
and workplace violence.
Products
Environment of CareŽ News
Through the Alliance OSHA and JCAHO/JCR are jointly writing an "OSHA & Worker Safety" column in the
JCR newsletter, Environment of CareŽ News, about health care worker safety
and health. The June 2007 edition included the article, "OSHA and Worker Safety: Decreasing Slips, Trips,
and Falls: NIOSH Study Helps Health Care Organizations Improve Worker Safety," co-authored by Don Wright,
Director, Office of Occupational Medicine, DSTM, USDOL-OSHA. The July 2007 edition included the article,
"OSHA & Worker Safety: Pandemic Flu Preparedness: OSHA Guidelines Provide Direction on Protecting
Patients, Workers," co-authored by Kay Dellinger and John Piacentino, Medical Officers, Office of
Occupational Medicine, DSTM, USDOL-OSHA. Dr. Wright continues to serve on the
Environment of CareŽ News' editorial board.
Outreach and Communication
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of
workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information
(e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and JCAHO/JCR's Web sites)
to employers and employees in the industry.
Products
OSHA and The Joint Commission/JCR Alliance Web page
The OSHA and JCAHO/JCR Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site continues to be updated on a regular
basis. The page includes links to the Alliance agreement and related documents, activities and
events, and milestones and successes.
Publications and News Releases
Information and news releases on the OSHA and The Joint Commission/JCR Alliance and the activities
of the Alliance have appeared in a number of print and online publications, including: BNA's
Occupational Safety and Health Reporter, Environment of CareŽ News, and OSHA's QuickTakes
eNewsletter the Agency's news release. For more information on the articles, see the "Alliance
Program Reach" table.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or The Joint Commission/JCR conferences, local meetings, or
other jointly-sponsored events.
Events
2nd Annual Emergency Preparedness Conference: Disaster Readiness on the Home Front, October 19-20,
2006, Washington, DC
Through the OSHA and The Joint Commission/JCR Alliance, the organizations worked with the American
Red Cross, another Alliance Program participant, to develop the program for the 2nd Annual Emergency
Preparedness Conference: Disaster Readiness on the Home Front, October 19-20, 2006 in Washington,
DC. The conference examined the threat of pandemic flu and natural disasters and discussed effective
planning strategies and available tools and techniques to maintain preparedness and readiness
status. More than 750 emergency management and healthcare employers and employees attended the
conference.
During the conference a number of OSHA staff members gave presentations and staffed an Alliance
Program exhibit booth:
- On October 19, 2006: Edwin J. Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA, gave opening remarks
and an OSHA update.
- On October 19, 2006: Thomas Galassi, Deputy Director, Directorate of Enforcement Programs,
USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation, "OSHA/JCAHO Emergency Management Standards," to 135 attendees.
- On October 20, 2006: John Piacentino, then Medical Officer, Office of Occupational Medicine,
Biological Specialized Response Team, DSTM, USDOL-OSHA gave a presentation, "Pandemic Flu: Pandemic
preparedness and Response-guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare employees," to 175
attendees.
- Don Wright, Director, Office of Occupational Medicine, DSTM, USDOL-OSHA, was the conference
moderator.
- OSHA representatives staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth and distributed agency compliance
assistance publications and the OSHA and The Joint Commission/JCR Alliance Activities Summary sheet
during the conference.
- Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding The
Joint Commission/JCR best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach
by JCAHO/JCR and through OSHA or JCAHO/JCR developed materials, training programs, workshops,
seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
Products
Total Health and Safety for Healthcare Facilities: Catalyzing Improvements
in Employee Safety, Patient Care, and the Bottom Line
Through the OSHA and The Joint Commission/JCR Alliance, OSHA's Office of Occupational Medicine
reviewed and provided comments on the JCR and the American Hospital Association book, Total
Health and Safety for Healthcare Facilities: Catalyzing Improvements in Employee Safety, Patient
Care, and the Bottom Line.
- Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects related to health care
worker safety that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
OSHA's Hospital eTool
Through the Alliance, The Joint Commission/JCR representatives are working with other Alliance
Program participants to provide input and expertise to OSHA to update the agency's Hospital eTool
modules including ergonomics, bloodborne pathogens, and laser hazards. In addition to The Joint
Commission/JCR, the other Alliance Program participants involved on the project are the Association
of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN), American Biological Safety Association (ABSA), Association of
periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), Laser Institute of American (LIA), Society of Diagnostic
Medical Sonography (SDMA), and the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN).
The representatives from The Joint Commission/JCR who are participating on the agency's update of
its Hospital eTool are:
- Charles MacFarlane, Vice President, Learning, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
- Kristine Miller, Senior Editor, Publications, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
- Promote and encourage participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance
and the Voluntary Protection Programs when The Joint Commission/JCR representatives work with
healthcare institutions.
During this evaluation period, no products or activities have been developed to meet this Alliance
goal.
Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health
- Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on health care
worker safety related issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input
on safety and health issues.
During this evaluation period, no products or activities have been developed to meet this Alliance
goal.
- Executive Summary
During the 2006-2007 reporting period, the OSHA and The Joint Commission/JCR Alliance implementation
team worked on an Alliance renewal agreement to extend the Alliance for two years. The renewal was
signed on November 8, 2006. The organizations will continue to work together to update and develop
new resources related to reducing and preventing exposure to biological and airborne hazards in
healthcare and address emergency preparedness and workplace violence. For example, the OSHA and The
Joint Commission/JCR Web page on OSHA's Web site provides links to the Alliance agreement, related
documents, activities and events, and milestones and successes.
In addition, OSHA and The Joint Commission/JCR shared information with safety and health
professionals, emergency preparedness planners and healthcare employers and employees at the Annual
Emergency Preparedness Conference, October 19-20, 2006 in Washington, DC. On October 19, 2006: Edwin
J. Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary gave opening remarks and provided an OSHA update and John
Piacentino, then Medical Officer, Office of Occupational Medicine, Biological Specialized Response
Team, Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine gave a presentation, "Pandemic Flu: Pandemic
preparedness and Response-guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare employees." OSHA
representatives also staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth and distributed agency compliance
assistance publications and the OSHA and The Joint Commission/JCR Alliance Activities Summary to
conference attendees.
Dr. Wright continues to serve on the editorial board of the JCR publication, Environment of CareŽ
News. In addition, OSHA and The Joint Commission/JCR are jointly writing an "OSHA & Worker Safety"
standing column for the quarterly newsletter including the June 2007 article, "OSHA and Worker
Safety: Decreasing Slips, Trips, and Falls: NIOSH Study Helps Health Care Organizations Improve
Worker Safety," and the July 2007 article, "OSHA & Worker Safety: Pandemic Flu Preparedness: OSHA
Guidelines Provide Direction on Protecting Patients, Workers."
The Joint Commission/JCR is also sharing its expertise with OSHA to update the agency's Hospital
eTool. The organizations' representatives are working on this project with other Alliance Program
participants, including AAOHN, ABSA and AORN.
Finally, through the Alliance, OSHA reviewed and provided comments on the JCR and the American
Hospital Association book, Total Health and Safety for Healthcare Facilities:
Catalyzing Improvements in Employee Safety, Patient Care, and the Bottom Line.
- Alliance Program Reach
| Type of Activity (Conference,
Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.) |
Number of Individuals Reached or
Trained |
| OSHA and JCAHO/JCR Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web
site |
6,183 |
November 8, 2006, OSHA Renews Alliance with the Joint
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and Joint Commission Resources, Inc.
OSHA News Release |
72 News Services |
November 11, 2006, "OSHA Renews Alliance with the
Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and Joint Commission Resources"
ehs Suite |
Data not available |
November 16, 2006, "OSHA Renews Safety Alliances with
JCAHO, Electrical Contractors, Safe Tank Alliance"
BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter |
Data not available |
December 4, 2006, "OSHA Forms Alliances To Protect
Telecommunications, Tree Care Workers"
FLASHPoint |
Data not available |
November 15, 2006, "Latest Alliance News"
OSHA QuickTakes |
53,906 |
August 2006, Total Health and Safety for Healthcare
Facilities: Catalyzing Improvements in Employee Safety, Patient Care, and the Bottom Line |
Data not available |
Annual Emergency Preparedness Conference
October 19-20, 2006
Washington, DC
Speakers:
- October 19: Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., OSHA's Assistant Secretary
- October 19: Thomas Galassi, Deputy Director, Directorate of Enforcement Programs
- October 20: John Piacentino, Medical Officer, Office of Occupational Medicine, Biological
Specialized Response Team, Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine
- October 19-20: Don Wright, Director, Office of Occupational Medicine, Directorate of
Science, Technology and Medicine
|
Exhibit booth |
450 |
June 2007, "OSHA and Worker Safety: Decreasing Slips,
Trips, and Falls: NIOSH Study Helps Health Care Organizations Improve Worker Safety"
Environment of CareŽ News |
1,848 |
July 2007, "OSHA & Worker Safety: Pandemic Flu
Preparedness: OSHA Guidelines Provide Direction on Protecting Patients, Workers"
Environment of CareŽ News |
1,848 |
| TOTAL |
64,235 |
IV. Upcoming Milestones
During the upcoming year, the OSHA and The Joint Commission/JCR Alliance Implementation Team is
planning a number of activities to provide health care workers and others with information,
guidance, and access to training resources to help them protect employees' health and safety,
particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to biological and airborne hazards in health care
and addressing emergency preparedness, ergonomics, and workplace violence issues.
For example, the agency is committed to maintaining and updating the OSHA and The Joint
Commission/JCR Alliance Web page on OSHA's Web site. The Joint Commission/JCR are also considering
developing an Alliance-related Web page on the organizations' Web site.
In addition, OSHA and The Joint Commission/JCR will continue to work with other Alliance Program
participants, including the AAOHN and AOHP to update modules of OSHA's Hospital eTool.
Further, OSHA and The Joint Commission/JCR implementation team is developing plans to promote the
Alliance through a number of speaking and exhibiting opportunities including, the Annual Emergency
Preparedness Conference, October 10-12, 2007 in Alexandria, Virginia. The team will also developing
content for an audio-cast on Health Care Worker Influenza Vaccination Protocols.
Finally, OSHA and The Joint Commission/JCR will continue to jointly write articles for the standing
column, "OSHA & Worker Safety, in JCR's quarterly publication, Environment
of CareŽ News. In addition, Dr. Wright will continue to serve on the publication's editorial board.
Report prepared by: Sandra Khan, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances,
August 29, 2007.
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