Project: GNHA Alliance focused on reducing and preventing nursing home employees’ exposure to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), bloodborne pathogens, falls, workplace violence and other hazards.

Signed October 21, 2003

Overview of Goals

Training & Education Goals:

• OSHA and Georgia Tech will develop training and education programs for the participant’s employees that focus on safety and health issues related to the nursing home industry.

Outreach & Communication Goals:

• Develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools and links from OSHA’s, Georgia Tech’s and GNHA’s Web sites. GNHA members will also be registered to receive the OSHA Region IV E-Newsletter.
  
  
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at conferences, local meetings, or other events, such as the Annual GNHA Conference.
  
  
• Promote and encourage GNHA members’ or worksites’ participation in OSHA’s cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, Consultation, and the Safety Health Achievement Recognition Program.
  
  
• Share information on best practices, as jointly determined by OSHA, Georgia Tech and GNHA, with others in the industry.

Promoting National Dialogue on Workplace Safety Goals:

• Raise others’ awareness of and demonstrate their own commitment to workplace safety and health whenever GNHA leaders address groups.
  
  
• Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.
  
  
• Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on nursing home industry issues such as MSDs, bloodborne pathogens, falls and workplace violence, to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace.

Overview of Milestone Met in FY 2004

• November 18, 2003, 8-hour Nursing Home Seminar was conducted in Savannah, Georgia. Topics covered included Navigating the OSHA website, Machine Guarding, LOTO, Electrical, Recordkeeping, Hazard Communication, PPE, Bloodborne Pathogen, Ergonomics, Slips and falls. Phillip Moncrief, CAS Savannah; Jonathan Worrell, CAS Atlanta East; Bryan Black, GATech; and Michelle Dunham, GATech, participated in this training sessions.
  
  
• January 21 – 22, 2004, GNHA Winter Conference was conducted in Atlanta, GA. Phillip Moncrief, Jonathan Worrell, Bryan Black, Michelle Dunham, and Sandy Phillips, IH Atlanta-West, staffed an OSHA booth at the conference. The group provided materials and answered questions for conference attendees. Jonathan Worrell also conducted a presentation regarding the GNHA/OSHA Alliance during the conference.
  
  
• March 25, 2004, OSHA OTI 7000 course, "Ergonomic Guidelines for Nursing Homes," was conducted by Bryan Black. Jonathan Worrell also discussed the OSHA National Emphasis Program on Nursing Homes.
  
  
• May 19, 2004, OSHA OTI 7000 course, "Ergonomic Guidelines for Nursing Homes," was conducted by Bryan Black. Jonathan Worrell also discussed the OSHA National Emphasis Program on Nursing Homes.

Milestones Achievement Targeted in FY 2005:

• On December 8, 2004, Phillip Moncrief and Jonathan Worrell are scheduled to conduct a seminar focusing on OSHA recordkeeping, OSHA's website, and OSHA’s regulatory requirements for the nursing home industry.
  
  
• On January 31 & February 1, 2005, OSHA will participate in the GNHA's Winter Conference, in Atlanta, Georgia, and serve as an exhibitor.
  
  
• OSHA and GATech are projecting a minimum of two GNHA seminars will be conducted in 2005. OSHA and GATech are currently planning these events with the GNHA.