Transcript Slide 1

Fire and Environmental Safety
To every patient, every time, we will provide the care that we
would want for our own loved ones.
Health, healing and hope.
Environmental Safety
•Environmental Safety: This course will discuss what GBMC does
to provide a safe environment for employees, and all who enter the
facility. The course will also discuss ways employees can prevent
injuries to themselves and others as well as actions to take when
injury occurs.
○Environmental and safety inspections are conducted at least
every 6 months on areas where individuals are served and
annually in areas where individuals are not served.
○Safety inspections are used to identify deficiencies, assess
employee knowledge and behaviors, and identify ways to
improve the environment.
○All employees are responsible for maintaining a safe
environment.
○The GBMC Safety Management Plan is reviewed annually to
ensure best practices are in place to maintain a safe environment
•Preventing Workplace Injuries: Those who work in healthcare
are especially at risk of these common workplace injuries. GBMC
employees need to take preventative actions against injuries:
○Slips, trips and falls
○Strains and sprains
○Needle sticks and exposures
○Hazardous product use (chemicals and other hazardous
materials)
•Reporting Employee Injuries: If you suspect an on-the job
injury or job-related illness regardless of how slight, report it to
your immediate supervisor and employee health immediately.
○The employee should report the injury or illness to their
immediate supervisor .
○The employee should report to Employee Health.
○The supervisor must see that the injured employee receives
necessary treatment.
○The supervisor must complete an employee injury
investigation form and submit it to employee health.
•Slips, Trips and Falls: The following measures help reduce the
risk of slips, trips and falls.
○Keep floors dry and free from slippery substances.
○Report spills and slick surfaces to EVS.
○Post “wet floor” signs to indicate the potential for slipping.
○Report uneven or damaged surfaces to the GBMC Facility
Department.
○Keep corridors free from clutter and trip hazards.
○Use handrails on stairs and other areas to reduce trips and
falls.
○Properly stack supplies so that employees will not need to
climb to reach them.
○Wear appropriate footwear for your work environment.
•Strain and Sprains: Prevention of strains and sprains starts with
proper body mechanics. Employees should always use safe
practices.
○Use proper body mechanics.
○Use appropriate devices to assist with lifting.
•Preventing Needle Sticks and Exposures:
○Needles should always be placed in sharps containers
and standard precautions followed.
○Sharps containers should be replaced as soon as they
reach the fill line.
○Do not recap needles.
○When possible use needles that retract and have self
contained caps to prevent accidental sticks.
○Wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
and follow proper procedures when handling potentially
infectious waste or hazardous materials.
○Any needle stick or exposure should be reported
immediately.
•Medical Equipment Safety: To reduce the risk of injury from
equipment use, GBMC employees should only use equipment they
have been trained to use and with which you have demonstrated
competence.
•Safe Medical Device Act: Anyone who witnesses, discovers or
otherwise becomes aware of information that a piece of equipment
has, may cause, or contributes to the death of a patient is
responsible for immediately assessing the patient and reporting the
incident.
○Requirements:
◊Report the incident to your immediate supervisor.
◊Remove the equipment from service (tag equipment
with date, time and reason for removal).
◊Complete an incident report and contact GBMC
Clinical Engineering.
◊Maintain the setting on the equipment or document the
settings.
◊Do not attempt to repair yourself, or allow anyone other
than GBMC Clinical Engineers to repair broken or
defective equipment.
•If you suspect a problem with non-medical equipment contact
the GBMC Facilities Department, do not attempt to repair the
equipment yourself.
•Do not use equipment that has frayed wires or is not in good
repair.
Fire Safety
All GBMC employees have a responsibility to know fire safety practices,
response, and evacuation procedures to ensure the safety of patients,
visitors and staff.
•Fire Prevention: The following measures help reduce the risk of fire.
○Keep flammable materials away from ignition sources.
○Use of extension cords must be approved by the Safety
Department.
○All non-hospital electrical equipment used in the facility must be
inspected and approved by facilities.
○Patients may not bring personal electrical appliances into the
facility.
○Keep exits and corridors clear at all times.
○Do not prop open doors (doors are a part of the fire suppression
system).
○Appropriately discard boxes and paper, empty trash frequently.
○Do not store any items within 18 inches of a sprinkler head.
○Report any fire hazards to the Safety Department.
○Fire drills are conducted so employees know response and
evacuation procedures.
In The Event Of A Fire Remember SAVE
S – Save the Patient – remove patients and visitors from immediate danger.
A – Activate the Alarm – locate and activate the nearest pull station.
V – Ventilate – close all doors to prevent the spread of smoke and fire.
E – Evacuate/Extinguish – locate and use the closest fire extinguisher,
evacuate if instructed.
When Using a Fire Extinguisher, Remember PASS
P – Pull the pin
A – Aim at the base
S – Squeeze the handle
S – Sweep from side to side
Medical Air Emergency Shut Off Valve
Employees working in patient care areas should know the location of the
medical air emergency shut off valves. Respiratory Therapy or the Unit CUC
are authorized to shut off medical air during a fire.
Dial FIRE (3473) to Report Fire or Smoke
CODE RED will be announced on the overhead paging system
along with the area of the fire.
When the alarms activates employees should:
○Check area for smoke or fire.
○Close all doors.
○Terminate all non-essential phone calls and procedures.
○Do not begin any operative, diagnostic or treatment
procedures, that cannot be terminated immediately.
○Clear corridors.
○Move all patients, clients and visitors to a safe location.
○Do not use elevators unless instructed.
○Be prepared to receive patients from other areas.
○Be prepared to evacuate – know evacuation route, retrieve
patient chart if possible.
○Stand by for further instructions.