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Alliance between Oregon OSHA and the Oregon Coalition for Healthcare Ergonomics

Summary of goals: The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OR-OSHA) and the Oregon Coalition for Healthcare Ergonomics (OCHE) acknowledge the merits of establishing a cooperative relationship. OR-OSHA and OCHE hereby form an Alliance to jointly share ergonomics best practices and injury prevention strategies throughout the Oregon healthcare community. Best practices will be shared through the dissemination of information regarding the benefits of safe patient handling (SPH) protocols and potential use of state-funded incentives as a means to expedite the dissemination of SPH techniques. Using these methods, the Alliance aims to increase the use of patient lift equipment and ultimately, reduce the incidence rate of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) throughout the healthcare industry.

Coordinators:

OSHA:
    Marilyn Schuster - Policy Manager
    Oregon OSHA
    350 Winter Street NE, Room 430
    Salem, OR 97301
    Tel: (503) 947-7400
OCHE:
    Lynda Enos RN, MS, COHN-S, CPE – OCHE Co-Chair
    Oregon Nurses Association, Humanfit
    15401 S Len Avenue
    Oregon City, OR 97045
    Tel/Fax: (503) 655-3308
    Alt tel: 503-293-0011 x301
    Cell: 503-789-6945
Focus Areas:

OR-OSHA and OCHE will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:
  • Provide expertise and up to date information to healthcare facilities in Oregon on the safety and financial benefits of implementing SPH programs.
  • Develop curriculum to retrain employers and employees in the healthcare industry in SPH techniques and in the use of new SPH equipment.
OR-OSHA and OCHE will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the statewide dialogue on workplace health and safety:
  • Raise awareness of and demonstrate commitment to SPH procedures to improve the health and safety of the workplace when OR-OSHA and OCHE leaders address healthcare groups.
  • Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on health and safety issues, including MSD research and data, SPH equipment advances and workplace design to help develop innovative solutions in the workplace and to provide input on health and safety issues.
Alliance outcome goals:

OR-OSHA’s Alliance with OCHE will work to increase statewide awareness of the causes of MSDs and advocate prevention measures to the healthcare industry. Ultimately, the Alliance aims to reduce the incidence rate of MSDs. The efficacy of the Alliance will be observable in trends of MSD-related workers’ compensation claims over time.

Other goals of the alliance:

OR-OSHA’s Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OR-OSHA for purposes such as training and education, outreach and communication and promoting a statewide dialogue on workplace safety and health. These Alliances have proved to be valuable tools for both OR-OSHA and its Alliance participants. By entering into an Alliance with a party, OSHA is not endorsing any of that party’s products or services; nor does the Agency enter into an Alliance with the purpose of promoting a particular party’s products or services.

Duration of agreement: This agreement will remain in effect for two years from the date of signing and will renew annually thereafter. This agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of both signatories and may be terminated for any reason with 30 days written notice from either signatory.

Evaluation:

An implementation team made up of representatives of both organizations will meet to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet on a regular schedule to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance. Team members will include representatives of OSHA’s policy management section, and consultation and OCHE members from various organizations within the healthcare industry.

How activities contribute to 5-year strategic plan goals and annual performance goals:

In recent years the services sector contained the majority of workers’ compensation claims. Within services, healthcare industries contribute the largest share, and in 2006, 56.2% of those were MSDs. Given the high incidence rate of MSDs in the healthcare sector, OR-OSHA regards the healthcare industry as a legitimate primary target in fulfilling it’s larger goal of improving workplace safety and health for all workers in Oregon. The Alliance will contribute to OR-OSHA’s 5-year strategic plan goal 2-3 Ergonomics by allowing for greater data dissemination regarding practices that cause MSDs and the solutions to reduce their incidence rate. Also, the Alliance will fulfill several of the FY 2007 performance indicators - 1) form a committee, 2) develop draft plan, and 3) obtain stakeholder input – and set OSHA on the way to achieving its FY 2007 performance goal of developing a plan to address and reduce ergonomic workplace hazards, and begin execution of that plan.

Reporting requirements:

Quarterly and annual reporting of evaluation indicators and achievement of outcomes. Assist in preparation of narrative. Contribute information for press releases.

Other information:

Industry sector: Healthcare – SIC 80
Number of employees covered: 175,909
Expected signing date:_________________

References:

OR-OSHA Program Directive PD A-259, effective 10/1/2006
 



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Michael Wood, Administrator
OR-OSHA		  


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Lynda Enos, Co-Chair
OCHE