NA: Workplace Safety and OSHA
Presented by Erin Vigne
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According to the US Department of Labor, in 2008 the nursing home industry injury and illness incident rate was almost three times the incident rate of industry as a whole. This course will identify and discuss some of the most common safety hazards that nursing assistants face in long-term care facilities and offer strategies on how to decrease workplace safety hazards and minimize the risk of injury. Topics discussed include lifting and moving residents, falls, exposure to hazardous materials, and workplace violence. The course will also review the rights that employees have to a safe working environment and how to file a complaint with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
Meet your instructor
Erin Vigne
Erin Vigne, RN, MA, is a registered nurse, gerontologist, and certified health coach who has worked as an intervention nurse and research coordinator for the University of Maryland School of Nursing since 2011. As an intervention nurse working on a variety NIH-funded studies, she has worked in nursing homes and assisted…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Case Scenario and Introduction
This chapter will introduce a case scenario that will be used as a learning tool during the course, explain the importance of workplace safety for certified nursing assistants, and introduce the learning objectives and agenda for the remainder of the course.
2. Look Out! Recognizing Safety Hazards Around You
This chapter will describe some of the most common potential hazards in long-term care facilities, including musculoskeletal disorders, falls, and exposure to hazardous materials. It will review ways that nursing assistants can reduce their risk of injury and dispel common beliefs regarding the use of manual lifting versus mechanical lifting. The chapter will conclude with a review of the case scenario presented at the beginning of the course, asking students to identify the potential safety hazards they see.
3. Workplace Violence: Not "Part of the Job"
This chapter will begin with an overview of the prevalence of workplace violence in long-term care facilities and describe common violent or aggressive behaviors that nursing assistants might encounter. The chapter will present a case scenario showing an angry resident and how the NA responds. It will review the risk factors for aggressive or violent residents, the warning signs to recognize when a resident may become violent, and tips for de-escalating a potentially violent situation. The chapter will conclude with a return to the case scenario, where the NA responds to the angry resident using the strategies presented.
4. Know Your Rights To Workplace Safety
Every employee has a right to work in an environment that does not pose a risk of serious harm. This chapter will review the rights of nursing assistants regarding workplace safety and provide information about how to report a safety concern to their employer, or file a complaint with OSHA if they feel that their employer is not following OSHA standards.
