Title Page

  • Document No.2018-1d

  • Workers Compensation & Safety Audit

  • Client / Site

  • Conducted on

  • Risk Consultant

  • Location
  • Date of Last Survey Conducted.

  • Persons Interviewed

Workers Compensation Program

GENERAL DATA

  • What department oversees the workers compensation program?

  • Who is responsible for employee safety?

  • Are Safety Huddles or department directors meetings held daily?

  • Is employee safety discussed at Safety Huddles or department directors meetings?

HUMAN RESOURCES

  • Is this a UNION hospital?

  • If so, name of unions and what departments are part of the union.

  • Are there issues REGARDING SAFETY that the union(s) are concerned with?

  • Average current turnover rate.(annual)

  • Department with the highest turnover rate.

  • Is there a policy for Workers Compensation that is SPECIFIC to the hospital?

  • Are all accidents reported within 24 hours?

  • What is the average lag time (time from accident occurrence to time received by the TPA)?

  • Is there a procedure required for accident investigation and/or follow up for causes of the accident?

  • Is the follow up procedure enforced for EACH accident?

  • Does Human Resources process On-the-job injuries?

  • Does the employee health function review on-the-job accidents?

  • Is there a current policy that addresses the Return-to-Work program?

  • Is the third part administrator (TPA) contacted for assistance with the WC program.?

  • Is every employee injury seen by the employee health nurse or a physician?

  • Is the employee health nurse involved in accident prevention program?

  • Is there a dedicated staff member within the Human Resources department that manages and monitors the employee claims?

  • Are the employees on lost-time status MONITORED for medical treatment and rehabilitation?

  • Is accident trending performed?

  • Are the physical requirements of each job included in the job description?

  • Are employees that have repeat accidents evaluated for safety violations?

  • What is the HRD's rating of the morale?

EDUCATION

  • Is there a hospital education department/function?

  • Who does the education director report to?

  • Who provides hospital safety in the new employee orientation?

  • Who is responsible for NEW employee orientation?

  • Who provides employee safe work practices and workers compensation to new employee orientation?

  • Is reporting accidents/Illnesses provided at new employee orientation?

  • Are accident trends discussed at new employee orientation?

  • Are safe work practices addressed and include the following: Patient lifting equipment, personal protective equipment and proper lifting techniques?

  • Is ANNUAL education provided to the hospital staff that includes employee safety

  • How are safety topics chosen to provide to employees annually?

  • What basis or subject matter used to address safety and accident prevention?

  • Are there programs designed for individuals needing specific safety education such as proper lifting techniques, back injury prevention, etc., on-going?

SAFETY PROGRAM- LOSS PREVENTION

  • How often does the Safety Committee meet?

  • Are accident issues AND accident trends discussed at Safety Committee meetings?

  • Is PATIENT TRANSFER EQUIPMENT available throughout the facility?

  • Does the hospital offer bariatric services?

  • Is there any specific training provided for moving obese patients

  • Is there a hospital code for lifting assistance?

  • Does the hospital utilize lifting teams?

  • Does the Environmental Tours include questions to the staff regarding safety practices?

  • Are there specific methods to communicate safety issues to the staff? (hospital bulletins, newsletters, etc.)

  • Is there a method to obtain safety suggestions from the staff? (e.g., suggestion box, electronically, etc.)

  • Is there a representative from the physical therapy department on the Safety Committee?

  • Is the employee health nurse a member of the Safety Committee?

  • Is weather a factor that may cause slippery conditions?

  • Are any special safeguards used to minimize slips during icy or snow conditions?

  • Is personal protection equipment provided for hazardous jobs (dietary, lab, housekeeping)?

  • Is Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) or deescalation training provided for all of the staff?

  • Is CPI or extensive deescalation training provided to the following departments: Emergency, Behavioral Health, Security, Special Care Units?

  • Is department accidents included as part of the annual performance evaluations to supervisors?

  • Are nursing representatives included on the Safety Committee?

  • Is there a formal Security program?

  • Describe the security function.

  • Is the a formal back prevention program?

  • Are Job Safety Analysis performed on positions requiring lifting?

CHIEF NURSING OFFICER

  • Is communication to the CNO regarding employee accidents provided ?

  • Are accident trends that address units or nursing departments provided?

  • Is the CNO familiar with the hospital return-to-work/light duty program?

  • Is the CNO knowledgeable of which nursing department/unit has a high frequency of accidents?

  • Are nursing supervisors provided with education regarding accident investigation and follow up?

  • Is loss prevention or accident reduction a part of annual nursing training?

  • Is nursing representatives included on the Safety Committee?

  • Is patient transfer equipment available?

  • Is there a back injury prevention program available and specific to the nursing staff?

  • Is de-escalation training provided to the nursing staff?

  • Are nursing services responsible for patient discharge and assist patients to their vehicle?

  • Has nursing personnel been specifically trained on patient discharge and assisting into their vehicle?

  • Rate the morale of the nursing staff.

General

  • Are waking surfaces kept in good order to minimize trips and falls?

  • Are wet ares identified and cleaned?

  • Are outside grounds and parking lots in good condition?

  • Are corridors clear for proper egress?

  • Are directional signs, including exit markings clear and visible?

  • Are general storage areas properly maintained?

Material Management

  • Are storage areas properly maintained?

  • Are heavy items stored at lower levels to minimize reaching

  • Are storage items properly stored to allow proper egress throughout the storage areas?

  • Are the loading areas, including the dock, properly maintained to minimize trips and falls?

  • Are trash containers easily accessible and kept in order?

  • Does the trash compactor utilize an automatic shut-down device (dead-man switch) to cease operation immediately?

  • Are personal protective equipment used in the storage area to include hard-toe shoes, bump hats, gloves, etc.?

  • Are lifting devices to lift and move heavy items available in the warehouse?

  • Is education on proper lifting techniques provided to all employees that manage storage areas?

Dietary

  • Are work areas within the kitchen provided with mats or other devices to minimize slips and falls from water?

  • Are hot water pipes properly wrapped or blocked to prevent burns?

  • Are knives or other sharp items properly stored or protected to minimize cuts?

  • Are personal protective equipment provided, such as protective gloves, eye protection and protective aprons provided?

  • Are cleaning supplies used for ovens/stoves properly stored and protective clothing provided when cleaning that includes protective eye wear, gloves, etc.?

  • Are the dish washer areas maintained with matts and proper drainage to reduce slippery services?

  • Is food storage areas properly maintained to minimize food items from falling and heavy bulk food at floor level?

  • Are dietary personnel required to wear non-slip shoes in wet/slippery areas of the department?

Radiology

  • Is there a department policy regarding pregnant employees working within the departments where radiation may cause harm to unborn fetus?

  • Are dosimeter badges worn by ALL employees and evaluated regularly for excessive exposures?

  • Is annual education on proper techniques provided to all employees responsible for patient transfer or patient movement to and from tables or other equipment where body mechanics are needed?

Physical Therapy

  • Is equipment available on the units to assist the handling of patients by the PT department?

  • Is there representation on the safety or EOC committee by the PT department?

  • Is the Physical therapy department part of the employee education program to minimize back, shoulder, etc. injury?

  • When strains or sprains occur, is the physical therapy department involved with specific training to injured employees?

  • Is the Physical Therapy department well spaced for equipment use?

Respiratory Care

  • Describe cleaning procedures and include all chemicals used to clean equipment.

  • Are there any cleaning chemicals used within the department that personal protective equipment is needed?

Plant Operations/Maintenace

  • Are maintenance shops in good order and equipment spaced properly?

  • Are machines provided with safety guards? (bench grinders, table saws, etc.)

  • Has there been a noise assessment in HVAC areas that would require ear protection?

  • Is there a requirement for special footwear where there is heavy material that create foot injury?

  • Is there a Lock Out/Tag Out policy that is current and enforced?

  • Are there areas within the facility that would be considered a confined space?

  • Is there a Confined Space policy?

  • Are plant operations part of the hospital security response team?

  • Has specific training provide to plant operations that respond to security issues?

  • Do plant operations respond to patient transfer or lifting needs?

  • Are plant operations provided with training on patient lifting/transfer techniques?

  • Are ladders OSHA approved and properly maintained?

  • Is personal protective equipment (PPE) such as eye protection, gloves, hardhats, etc., provided and worn by maintenance personnel?

Special Care Units (ICU, CCU, etc.)

  • Are electric equipment cords in special care units secured to minimize entanglement and trips?

  • Is equipment within patient areas well spaced to minimize tripping?

Emergency Department

  • Are ALL employees trained to handle aggressive behavior patients?

  • Are there specific codes for the emergency department personnel to use when there is patient disruption and assistance needed?

Operating/Surgery, Obstetrics PACU,Anesthesia

Behavioral Health

Patient Units

  • Is lifting equipment properly storage and easily obtainable?

Administration

  • Has there been an ergonomics evaluation performed in all admin areas that focuses on repetitive motion to reduce carpal tunnel situations?

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

  • Is there a “Safety Champion “ that provides a positive approach to accident prevention?

  • Who is the "person" (safety champion) ultimately responsible for employee safety?

  • Does the CEO know how the hospital compares to other facilities in regard to employee accidents?

  • Is the CEO aware of the expenses of employee accidents/Workers Compensation expense?

  • What does the CEO rate the morale of the hospital?

SAFETY CULTURE

  • Describe the overall Safety culture.

MORALE

  • Rate overall morale

  • Morale issues if applicable.

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