The Ideal Time to Update Your Facility’s Safety Plans

June is National Safety Month and it’s the perfect time to review and update your company’s safety protocols and ensure that everyone on your team is educated on the best safety practices. For healthcare organizations, a safe workplace is crucial, not just because of compliance mandates, but also because injuries and accidents are prevalent in the industry. According to OSHA, each year, more healthcare workers are injured than in any other field. Reviewing your safety plans is a key way to protect and empower your staff–here are a few of the most important safety plans:

Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan

OSHA guidelines include a necessity for a Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan (ECP) that outlines safety protocols and how to protect employees from infectious materials. In addition, your ECP should also include how to manage and respond to accidental exposures. A comprehensive ECP should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis.

Injuries and Illness Prevention Program

This program should identify workplace hazards and any unsafe conditions that could result in illness or injury. Employees should be aware of these hazards and educated on how to avoid injuries. Having this program in place is a key way to reduce accidents and prevent them.

Emergency Preparedness Program

This program establishes what to do in the event of an emergency, including a fire in the workplace. Healthcare workers must be trained on emergency procedures, who to contact in the event of an emergency, evacuation plans and other protocols related to unexpected events. This program must be updated regularly to ensure new key emergency contacts and employees are included.

Hazard Communication Program

All healthcare facilities must have a written hazard communication program in place to inform staff of potentially hazardous chemicals in the workplace. This program should include four elements:

• An explanation of the labels for any and all hazardous chemicals
• A comprehensive list of all hazardous chemicals onsite at your facility
• Guidelines on how to access the safety data sheets for each chemical
• Comprehensive training on each hazardous chemical’s potential risks, how staff members can protect themselves and what to do in the event of exposure

OSHA has very specific rules and guidelines of workplace safety programs so it’s important to know and understand how they apply to your facility. One requirement is that they are site specific, so remaining up to date is key to protecting your staff as well as ensuring compliance. Once you have reviewed and updated your safety plans, team members must be trained on any new procedures.

All Points Medical Waste is a full service medical waste disposal company located in Stuart, Florida. We offer medical waste disposal as well as OSHA training for your employees. Our family owned and operated company serves South Florida facilities from Okeechobee County all the way to Broward County. Give us a call today or fill out this form to learn how we can serve you.