AOHP - Alliance Annual Report - March 3, 2011

ALLIANCE ANNUAL REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the
Association of Occupational Health Professionals (AOHP) in Healthcare
March 3, 2011

  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, Office of Occupational Health Nursing, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management (DTSEM)
    Bret Besser, Salt Lake Technical Center, DTSEM
    Brently Donaldson, Office of Training & Educational Development, Directorate of Training and Education
    Sandra Khan*, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA), Directorate of Cooperative and State Plans (DCSP)
    Morgan Seuberling, OOSA, DCSP

    AOHP:

    Barbara Brown, Solano County Health and Social Services Department; AOHP Member
    Al Carbuto, Jack Weiler Hospital Division/Montefiore Medical Center; AOHP Member
    Diane Dickerson, Inova Health System; AOHP Member
    June Duck, Sentara Healthcare; AOHP Membe
    r Jan Frustaglia, Austin Community College; AOHP Member
    Linda Good, Scripps Memorial Hospital; AOHP Member
    MaryAnn Gruden, The Western Pennsylvania Hospital; AOHP Association Community Liaison Chair-EHS Coordinator
    Betsy Holzworth, Culpeper Regional Hospital; AOHP Member
    Sandra D. Prickett, Marin General Hospital; AOHP Member
    Denise Strode, Knoblauch OSF Saint Francis; AOHP Member

    *Morgan Seuberling replaced Sandy Khan as the Alliance Coordinator on July 1, 2010.

    Evaluation Period

    February 19, 2010 – February 18, 2011

  2. Implementation Team Meetings

    • June 14, 2010 Implementation Team Meeting
    • August 30, 2010 Implementation Team Meeting
    • November 30, 2010 Implementation Team Meeting

    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.

      During this evaluation period, the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Implementation Team has not completed work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      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 continues to maintain and update the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site. The page includes links to OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages, the Alliance's activities and events and information on the Alliance's products and resources.

      AOHP and OSHA Alliance-related Web Page

      The AOHP and OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the AOHP Web site features information about the OSHA and AOHP Alliance, including a link to the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site. The page also includes a number of links to additional safety and health resources, including the OSHA Distracted Driving Initiative, the OSHA Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers, the OSHA Hospital eTool and a number of OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages.

      Print and Electronic Media

      Information on the activities of the OSHA and AOHP Alliance has appeared in print and online publications, including the AOHP Journal. In addition, an article entitled "Prepare for Flu Season Now" was written by MaryAnn Gruden and published in the December 2010 edition of the Alliance Quarterly Review (AQR). The AQR article offers information on how to stop the spread of infectious diseases such as influenza. For more information on the articles please see the "Alliance Program Reach" table.

      OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages

      AOHP representatives serve on the editorial boards of the following OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages, providing OSHA with expertise and technical review:

      • Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention
        • MaryAnn Gruden, CRNP, MSN, NP-C, COHN-/S-CM, Coordinator, Employee Health Services, West Penn Allegheny Health System, The Western Penn Hospital; Pittsburgh, PA
      • Healthcare Facilities
        • MaryAnn Gruden, CRNP, MSN, NP-C, COHN-/S-CM, Coordinator, Employee Health Services, West Penn Allegheny Health System, The Western Penn Hospital; Pittsburgh, PA
      • Medical and First Aid
        • MaryAnn Gruden, CRNP, MSN, NP-C, COHN-/S-CM, Coordinator, Employee Health Services, West Penn Allegheny Health System, The Western Penn Hospital; Pittsburgh, PA

      OSHA's eTools

      AOHP representatives serve on the editorial board of the following OSHA eTool, providing OSHA with expertise and technical review:

        • Hospital
        • Diane Dickerson, RN, MS, COHN-S/CM, SPHR Risk Manager, Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA
        • MaryAnn Gruden, CRNP, MSN, NP-C, COHN-/S-CM, Coordinator, Employee Health Services, West Penn Allegheny Health System, The Western Penn Hospital; Pittsburgh, PA
        • Sandra Domeracki Prickitt, RN, FNP, COHN-S, Employee Health Services, Marin General Hospital/Novato Community Hospital, San Rafael, CA
        • June M. Duck, RN BSN, COHN-S, Occupational Health Services, Sentara Healthcare, Norfolk, VA
        • Jan Frustaglia, RN, BS, CCM, COHN-S, Case Manager, Lovelace Westside Hospital, Albuquerque, NM
        • Linda Goode, RN, MN, COHN-S, Manager, Employee Occupational Health Services, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA
      • 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.

      Event

      AOHP Annual National Conference, September 15-18, 2010, The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers, Boston, Massachusetts

      OSHA supported AOHP's National Conference through the following activities:

      • On September 16, 2010, Joanne Regan, Industrial Hygienist, Region I, Boston, Massachusetts Regional Office, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation entitled "OSHA Recordkeeping and the National Emphasis Program (NEP)" to 150 health professional attending the conference.
      • On September 15-17, 2010, MaryAnn Medeiros, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Region I, Providence, Rhode Island Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth.

      In addition, AOHP distributed products developed through the OSHA and AOHP Alliance to 175 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).

      During this evaluation period, the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Implementation Team have not completed work on programs or projects to address this goal.

      • 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.

      Events

      2010 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 2-8, 2010

      The Association of Occupational Health Professionals and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported the 2010 NAOSH Week, "Mission NAOSH 2010: Safe Workplaces." Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers, an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

      To help support the event, AOHP disseminated information about 2010 NAOSH Week to it membership through publishing articles in the monthly newsletter and quarterly AOHP Journal, emailing promotional materials to AOHP staff and members and by including promotional information on the AOHP Web page.

    2. Executive summary

      Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and AOHP are working together to develop resources that will focus on reducing and preventing exposure to patient-handling hazards, bloodborne diseases, and emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities. The positive relationship that AOHP has developed over the past seven years has led to the development of many projects that the team is currently working on or has produced.

      The Alliance is continuing to distribute information and increase awareness of safety and health issues for their industry professionals. AOHP invited OSHA representatives from the Region I Area Office to speak and staff an Alliance Program exhibit booth at their Annual National Conference, September 15-18, 2010, in Boston, Massachusetts.

      AOHP representatives are also sharing their expertise with OSHA through participation on the editorial boards for the following OSHA Safety and Health topics pages:

      • Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention
      • Healthcare Facilities
      • Medical and First Aid

      AOHP members are also continuing to serve on the OSHA editorial board for the Hospital eTool.

      Finally, as part of their outreach, AOHP supported and promoted the 2010 NAOSH Week by distributing information to members and adding information about the event on the AOHP Web site.

    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 No Data Available
      AOHP and OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the AOHP Web site No Data Available
      OSHA Blood Borne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Safety and Health Topics page 14,352
      OSHA Healthcare Facilities Safety and Health Topics Page 218
      OSHA Medical and First Aid Safety and Health Topics page No Data Available
      OSHA's Hospital eTool 282
      December 30, 2010: "Prepare for Flu Season Now"

      Alliance Quarterly Review      		 43 National Alliance Program participants
      Spring 2010, "Interview with OSHA"

      AOHP Journal      		 1,100
      September 15-17, 2010: AOHP Annual National Conference
      September 15-18, 2010, Boston, Massachusetts

      Alliance Program Exhibit      		 175
      September 16, 2010: AOHP Annual National Conference
      September 15-18, 2010, Boston, Massachusetts

      Speaker: Joanne Regan, Industrial Hygienist, Region I, Boston, Massachusetts Regional Office, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation entitled "OSHA Recordkeeping and the National Emphasis Program (NEP)."      		 150
      TOTAL 16,320

  4. Upcoming Milestones

    In 2011, OSHA and AOHP will continue to focus on reducing and preventing exposure to patient-handling hazards, bloodborne diseases, and emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities. The OSHA and AOHP Implementation Team members will be discussing a number of activities to be undertaken in the upcoming year.

    AOHP will also continue to provide their expertise to OSHA by providing feedback on draft Web pages developed by OSHA as requested, such as the OSHA Web Page for Healthcare Professionals. In addition, AOHP representatives will continue to provide OSHA their expertise in serving on the editorial boards for the OSHA Hospital eTool and for OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages.

    In continuing the exhibiting and speaking goal, OSHA representatives will participate at the AOHP Annual National Conference. OSHA personnel from Minnesota OSHA Consultation have agreed to staff an Alliance exhibit booth, and OSHA staff from Region V will give a presentation at the conference, September 28 – October 1, 2011, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    Finally, AOHP representatives will be joining with other Alliance Program participants to support 2011 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week, May 1-7, 2011, "NAOSH – Celebrating a Century of Safety."

    Report prepared by: Morgan Seuberling, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, March 3, 2011.