Transcript Planning OH Programs for Special Populations

Occupational Health Programs
Occupational Health Definition
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WHO/ILO defines occupational health as:
◦ the promotion and maintenance of the highest
degree of physical, mental, and social well-being
of workers in all occupations
◦ the prevention amongst workers of departures
from health caused by their working conditions
Occupational Health Program Components
1) Safety and Accident Prevention
2) Hazard Identification
3) Exposure Monitoring and Health Surveillance
4) Injury and Illness Management (Case Management)
5) Emergency Response and Disaster Planning
6) International Travel
7) Ergonomics Program
8) Integrated Job Safety Analysis – identify job activities
and associated occupational risk factors and modes of
remediation and accommodation
Occupational Health Service Goals
To protect workers from health and safety
hazards
 To facilitate safe placement of workers
according to their physical, mental and
emotional capacities
 To assure adequate medical care and rehab of
occupationally ill and injured
 To assist in measures related to personal health
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Source: McCunney, R. A Practical Approach to Occupational and Environmental
Medicine, 1994
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Occupational Health Directives
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OSHA
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General Duty Clause
Lab Standard
Respiratory Protection Standard
Etc.
Texas Department of State Health Services
Laboratory Animal Care Accreditation (AAALAC)
Joint Commission accreditation for health care
organizations
Occupational management system standards (OHSAS
18001)
Many others
Employee Risk Assessment
Recommend placement of employee
 Screen for health/safety issues
 Baseline data: physical, mental, historical
 Meet regulatory mandates (OSHA)
 Identify exposure and risk factors that are
hazardous to employee’s health
 Educate employee on safety & health
issues
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Exposure Reporting Systems
Develop institutional exposure control plan
 Identify responsibilities of occupational health
personnel
 Establish injury/illness reporting mechanisms
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report forms, telephone hotlines
Worker’s compensation
 Ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations
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Exposure Follow Up
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Review of completed report form
Follow-up with ill/injured person
◦ Ensure documentation of type of exposure along
with exposure route-trend analysis
Subsequent visits to employee health as determined
by individual circumstances
Safety Devices and Preventative Measures
Perform job safety analysis to determine
employee hazard risk categorization
 Implement use of retractable syringes,
sharps containers, etc.
 Engineering controls
 Personal protective equipment
 Proper immunizations
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Workers’ Compensation Benefits System
Workers'
Comp
Board
Insurance
Carrier
OHN/CM
Payroll
Information
Injured
Worker
Manager
Health Care
Provider
Case Management
Objectives:
• avoid inappropriate medical care
• avoid lost time when able to perform modified
duty
• avoid anger, frustration of employee
• maintain open communications between all
parties
• avoid permanent disability
o encourage rehabilitation, when possible
Program Evaluation
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Build evaluation into the design of the program
Evaluate based on the objectives (be sure they
were established to start with)
Choose an evaluation tool◦ Chart review or document review, Customer
Survey, Observed practices, Trends in employee
injury data
Report program information in terms of impact or
benefits as well as cost
Consider cost benefit analysis as a part of the
evaluation (small cost up front vs. large payout
later?)
Characteristics of Successful Health
Promotion Programs
Support from the top  Defined budget
 Priority within mission  Use on/off site
facilities
 Input from mgmt &
workers
 Conduct assessments
& screenings with
 Qualified staff
follow up
 Include all shifts
 Participate in
community programs
Source: Chenoweth, D.H. (1991) Health
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Promotion at the Worksite