AOHP - Alliance Annual Report - March 20, 2009

ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and
Association of Occupational Health Professionals (AOHP) in Healthcare
March 20, 2009

  1. Alliance Background

    Date Signed

    February 19, 2004

    Date Renewed

    August 27, 2006

    April 28, 2008

    Overview

    The OSHA and AOHP Alliance is providing the association's members 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 patient-handling hazards, bloodborne diseases, and emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities.

    Implementation Team Members

    OSHA:

    Sheila Arbury
    Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management (DTSEM)
    Bret Besser
    DTSEM
    Brently Donaldson
    Directorate of Training and Education
    Sandra Khan
    Office of Outreach Services and Alliances
    Sarah Samuel
    Office of Small Business Assistance

    AOHP:

    Diane Dickerson
    Director, EHS, Inova Health System
    June Duck
    Team Coordinator, Sentara Healthcare
    Jan Frustaglia
    Program Coordinator, Austin Community College
    Linda Good
    Employee Health, Scripps Memorial Hospital
    MaryAnn Gruden
    EHS Coordinator, West Penn Hospital
    Sandra Prickett
    EHS Coordinator, Morin General Hospital
    Denise Strode
    Case Manager, OSF Saint Francis

    Evaluation Period

    February 19, 2008 – February 18, 2009

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    February 19, 2008
    Implementation Team Meeting
    March 28, 2008
    Hospital eTool Development Team Teleconference
    June 10, 2008
    Implementation Team Meeting, Teleconference
    September 9, 2008
    Implementation Team Meeting, Teleconference

    In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from both groups maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor the Alliance's progress and results.

  3. Results

    1. Events and Products

      Training and Education Goal

      • Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs and materials on bloodborne diseases and emergency preparedness for healthcare institutions and workers.

      Products

      Mass Immunization of Healthcare Workers Reference Guide

      Through the OSHA and AOHP Alliance, AOHP is developing a Mass Immunization of Healthcare Workers Reference Guide. The reference guide template can be modified for any healthcare facility and to help them increase the number of healthcare employees who receive mass immunizations.

      Outreach and Communication Goals

      • 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 AOHP's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.

      Products

      OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web Page

      OSHA maintains and updates the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site regularly. The page contains information on the Alliance's products and resources, activities and events, and milestones and successes. For more information on the number of site visits, please see the "Alliance Program Reach" table.

      AOHP and OSHA Alliance-related Web Page

      AOHP continues to maintain and update the AOHP and OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the AOHP Web site. The page includes links to OSHA's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers, the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site, and OSHA's electronic assistance tools, including the Hospital eTool and Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Safety and Health Topic page.

      Print and Electronic Media

      Information on the activities of the OSHA and AOHP Alliance have appeared in print and online publications, including ISH News and the AOHP Journal and Quarterly Electronic Newsletter. For more information on the articles please see the "Alliance Program Reach" table.

      OSHA Electronic Assistance Tools

      An AOHP representative, Mary Ann Gruden, Community Liaison, serves on the editorial board for the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Safety and Health Topics page and the OSHA Hospital eTool.

      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or AOHP's conferences, local meetings, or other AOHP sponsored events such as the AOHP Annual National Conference.

      Events

      AOHP Annual National Conference, September 17-20, 2008, Denver, Colorado

      Pam Baptiste, Industrial Hygienist, Region VII-Denver, Colorado Area Office, USDOL-OSHA staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth and distributed compliance assistance materials, including Pandemic Flu for Healthcare Workers, Preparing the Workplace for Pandemic Flu, Best Practices for Hospital-Based First Receivers, Avian Flu Quickcard, How to Plan for Workplace Evacuations, and Safe Use of Glutaraldehyde.

      In addition, AOHP distributed a copy of the AOHP guidance document, "Beyond Getting Started: A Resource Guide for Implementing a Safe Patient Handling Program in the Acute Care Setting," developed through the OSHA and AOHP Alliance to conference attendees.

      • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding AOHP's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by AOHP and through OSHA or AOHP's developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

      ProductsM

      "Beyond Getting Started: A Resource Guide for Implementing a Safe Patient Handling Program in the Acute Care Setting"

      AOHP continues to promote the AOHP guidance document, "Beyond Getting Started: A Resource Guide for Implementing a Safe Patient Handling Program in the Acute Care Setting," that was developed through the OSHA and AOHP Alliance. The document was published on September 20, 2006 and is posted on the AOHP Web site and a link to the document is featured on the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site. In 2007, a link to the guidance document was posted on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Safety and Health Topic page: Health Care Workers on the NIOSH Web site and on the Minnesota OSHA Workplace Safety Consultation Web site.

      • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects related to patient-handling hazards, bloodborne diseases and emergency preparedness that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

      Products

      OSHA Hospital eTool

      Through the Alliance, AOHP representatives worked with other Alliance Program participants, including the Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) and The Joint Commission/Joint Commission Resources (JCR) to provide OSHA with input and expertise to OSHA to help the Agency update its Hospital eTool. The revised eTool was posted on the OSHA Web site in September 2008.

      Events

      2008 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 4-10, 2008

      AOHP and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported 2008 NAOSH Week, "Safety is Good Business." Sponsored annually by American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. In addition, representatives of AOHP attended the NAOSH Week Kick-off event, May 5, 2008 at the U.S. Department of Labor.

      2008 Drug-Free Work Week, October 20-26, 2008

      AOHP and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported the 2008 Drug-Free Work Week. Sponsored annually by the U.S. Department of Labor's Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Program, the Week focused on educating employers, employees and the public about the importance of being drug-free as an essential component of a safe and healthful workplace.

    2. Executive summary

      During the fifth year of the OSHA and AOHP Alliance, the organizations continued to work together to provide AOHP members and others with information, guidance and access to training resources to help protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to patient-handling hazards, bloodborne diseases, and emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities. The collaborative relationship has resulted in a sustained effort to support the Alliance Program's initiatives and the development of safety and health resources.

      To meet the Alliance's goals, OSHA and AOHP Implementation Team members continued to work on a number projects and support outreach activities. For example:

      • AOHP continued to promote and distribute the guidance document, "Beyond Getting Started: A Resource Guide for Implementing a Safe Patient Handling Program in the Acute Care Setting," which was developed through the OSHA and AOHP Alliance.
         
      • OSHA continued to maintain and update the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site. The Web page includes links to the OSHA and AOHP Alliance agreements, news releases, activities and events and products and resources.
         
      • AOHP also maintained and updated its AOHP and OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the AOHP Web site. The page includes links to OSHA's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers, the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site, and OSHA's electronic assistance tools, including the Hospital eTool and Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Safety and Health Topics page.
         
      • AOHP worked with OSHA to update the Agency Hospital eTool. AOHP representative worked on this project with other Alliance Program participants, including the AAOHN and The Joint Commission/JCR.
         
      • AOHP joined with other Alliance Program participants in supporting and promoting the 2008 NAOSH Week, May 4-10, 2008, and the 2008 Drug-Free Work Week, October 20-26, 2008.
         
      • During the AOHP Annual National Conference, September 17-20, 2008 in Denver, Colorado, Pam Baptiste, Industrial Hygienist, Region VII, Denver, Colorado Area Office, USDOL-OSHA staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth.
         
      • AOHP representatives shared their expertise with OSHA and are serving on the editorial board of OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Safety and Health Topics page and Hospital eTool.

      Finally, AOHP published information about the OSHA and AOHP Alliance in the AOHP Quarterly Electronic Newsletter and Journal.

    3. Alliance Program Reach
    Type of Activity
    (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)    		 Number of Individuals
    Reached or Trained
    OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site 3,985
    AOHP and OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the AOHP Web site 23,340
    OSHA's Blood Borne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Safety and Health Topics page 17,856
    OSHA's Hospital eTool on the Agency Web site 36,245
    OSHA's Compliance Assistance Quick Start: Health Care Industry on the Agency Web site 11,332
    June 3, 2008, "Healthcare worker safety group renews OSHA alliance"

    Medical Environment Weekly    		 Data not available
    June 4, 2008, "OSHA and the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare Renew Alliance"

    AOHP's Journal    		 Data not available
    April 2008, "AOHP and OSHA Alliance Update"

    AOHP's Quarterly eNewsletter    		 1,100
    May 27, 2008, "Alliance News: OSHA and the AOHP"

    ISHNews    		 Data not available
    Summer 2008, "AOHP and OSHA Alliance Update"

    AOHP's Journal    		 1,100
    July 2008, "AOHP and OSHA Alliance Update"

    AOHP's Quarterly eNewsletter    		 1,100
    Fall 2008, "AOHP and OSHA Alliance Update"

    AOHP's Journal    		 1,100
    September 17-20, 2008, AOHP Annual National Conference
    Denver, Colorado

    Exhibit    		 400
    October 2008, "AOHP and OSHA Alliance Update"

    AOHP's Quarterly eNewsletter    		 1,100
    January 2008, "AOHP and OSHA Alliance Update"

    AOHP's Quarterly eNewsletter    		 1,100
    Winter 2008, "AOHP and OSHA Alliance Update"

    AOHP's Journal    		 1,100
    TOTAL 99,758

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    During the upcoming year, the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Implementation Team members are planning a number of activities to meet the goals of the Alliance and to protect employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to patient-handling hazards, bloodborne diseases, and emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities.

    For example, AOHP will complete a reference guide, "Mass Seasonal Flu Immunization of Healthcare Workers," to increase vaccinations among healthcare workers.

    AOHP and OSHA will promote the Alliance Program through a number of speaking and exhibiting opportunities including, the AOHP Annual Conference, September 16-29, 2009, in Portland, Oregon.

    AOHP will also support and promote the 2009 NAOSH Week, May 4-10, 2009 and the 2009 Drug-Free Work Week, October 19-23, 2009.

    Further, AOHP will continue to review and provide expertise on OSHA-developed safety and health documents, as requested.

    Finally, OSHA and AOHP Alliance Implementation Team members will continue to provide their expertise to the Agency by serving on the editorial board for OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Safety and Health Topics page and Hospital eTool.

    Report prepared by: Sandra Khan, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, March 20, 2009.