Celebrating Safety Month with 5 Tips for Healthcare Workers

We’re taking this occasion as the perfect opportunity to  review safety measures for healthcare workers that protect employees, the public and the environment.

June is recognized as “National Safety Month,” a reminder for businesses to work on improvements at their workplaces that reduce the causes of injury and death. For 2019, the focus is on “Hazard Recognition,” slips and falls and improvements in fatigue and impairment monitoring.

One of the industries where these impairments must be addressed is the medical field. Employees at health facilities are often working very long hours and coming in contact with dangerous, hazardous matter all throughout the day.

We’re taking this occasion as the perfect opportunity to review safety measures for healthcare workers that protect employees, the public and the environment. 

Here are our top 5 tips for safety improvements at healthcare facilities:

1. Improve Scheduling Practices and Encourage Breaks

One of the best ways to ensure employees are up to the task and performing optimally on the job is to better manage schedules. Serious issues such as alarm fatigue in nursing and errors can occur when staff hasn’t had adequate time to rest and refresh. Stress management and work/life balance practices can also go a long way to keeping staff alert and productive.

2. Never Skip Training

Even for those long established companies that have long tenured staff, on-going training is essential. In a highly regulated industry such as this, there are new rules and updates to practices being introduced all the time. Offering these updates and refreshers on how to best protect themselves and others at the facility are important.

3. Enforce Hazardous Waste Handling Rules

Since much of the waste being produced at health facilities is hazardous, it’s absolutely critical that everyone follow handling and disposal rules at all time. Properly labeled containers to separate the waste as well as a clearly outlined policy can help clear up any possible confusion to avoid accidents or hefty fines

4. Keep a Regular Disposal Schedule

The only way to be sure you’re maintaining compliance with medical waste disposal regulations is to hire a professional service that provides regular and consistent medical disposal. There’s a lot happening at medical facilities throughout the course of the day. Remembering to call for waste pickup each time bins fill up shouldn’t have to be on that list.

5. Maintain Accurate Records

When incidents do occur, or a potential safety hazard has been discovered, it’s critical that health facilities keep accurate records and track them to prove their compliance and corrective actions took place. A responsible medical waste disposal company can also provide medical waste tracking forms to document that you’re in compliance.

At Red Bags, we want you to maintain safe and productive operations. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your peace of mind. Our services ensure that your medical waste is being hauled away by a reliable company. From biohazardous to regulated medical waste disposal – we aim to simplify your transaction and put your mind at ease. Get in touch today to learn more!

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