Safety & Health

Online Safety & Health Resources for Healthcare Workers

Protect Yourself

» Interested in establishing a safe resident lifting program? Check out this NIOSH guide for nursing home owners, administrators, nurse managers, safety and health professionals, and workers.

» SEIU trains providers on emergency preparedness and emerging health threats to ensure respirators provide adequate protection.

What is Swine Flu, H1N1 and Is Your Worksite Ready for It?
» Overview
» Swine Flu Similarities and Differences
» Using Infection Control
» Response Plan Checklist

General Health and Safety
» National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
» Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
» OSHA's Electronic Compliance Assistance Tools -- Helps workers and employers identify and address potential occupational hazards in nursing homes or in hospitals by describing standard requirements and safe work practices.
» OSHA worker rights under the OSH Act of 1970
» National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
» NIOSH guidelines for worker safety and health (pdf)
» Premier's safety topics A to Z
» The National Network of Committees on Occupational Safety and Health
» Sustainable Hospitals Project

Fact sheets on Smallpox
» Smallpox Disease, Vaccine, Vaccination: FAQs (pdf)
» The Vaccine Program: Weigh the Facts Before You Volunteer (pdf)
» Should You Volunteer? A Chart to Help You Decide (pdf)
» Vaccination Safeguards: A Checklist for Health Care Workers (pdf)

Bloodborne Pathogens and Preventing Needlestick Injuries
» OSHA's needlestick info
» CDC guidelines for managing occupational exposure to HBV, HCV and HIV
» NIOSH alert on preventing needlestick injuries
» NIOSH lessons learned: safer medical device implementation
» Training for Development of Innovative Control -- Technologies Project (developing safer needlestick technology)
» International Health Care Worker Safety Center
» EPA info about disposing of medical sharps in homecare settings

Tuberculosis (TB) and Control of Airborne Pathogens
» NIOSH and CDC guide
» CDC guidelines for preventing TB transmission of mycobacterium
» OSHA enforcement policy

Safe Patient Handling and Lifting (including no-lift policies)
» Department of Veterans Affairs Patient Safety Center

Violence in the Workplace
» OSHA guidelines

Latex Allergy
» OSHA Technical Information Bulletin
» NIOSH alert

Chemicals and Hazardous Drugs
» OSHA
» NIOS