The Workers' compensation Boards of Trustees have adopted a Vision that states "To lead our membership to create and maintain the safest work environment." To complement this Vision, the workers' compensation program offers a full range of safety consulting services to our members. The services are designed to support the members in creating a safe work environment and to support the missions of our members in providing quality health care. The following services are not all inclusive and custom consulting and training is available. If you do not see what you are looking for, please contact Beverly Simmons, Executive Director, or your designated safety coordinator.
Safety Coordinators work with the member organizations to design, manage, implement, monitor, and evaluate their safety and injury prevention programs. The safety staff are dedicated to educating and influencing Workers' Compensation Trust members to adopt health and safety policies and practices that meet regulatory compliance and prevent/ minimize human and economic losses arising from accidental causes and adverse occupational and environmental health exposures.
Safety Coordinators are available to provide on-site assistance with accident investigations, OSHA record keeping, ergonomics, patient handling programs (ZERO LIFT), bloodborne pathogens, indoor air quality, latex allergies, emergency response, and many other health and safety matters. We offer periodic seminars (Injury Prevention Committee) covering important safety and risk management issues.
Patient Handling Injury Prevention
Safety Coordinators will provide assistance with the development of an effective patient handling injury prevention program (ZERO LIFT Program) that includes oversight of policy development, equipment purchases, employee training, and accident investigation (Root Cause Analysis) of any patient handling related employee injury.
General Ergonomic Hazards
In addition to providing assistance in the prevention of patient handling related ergonomic injuries, the Safety Coordinators can assist with the development of a comprehensive ergonomics program that will identify and reduce ergonomic related hazards in all areas of the healthcare
organization (i.e. administrative tasks, maintenance, cleaning tasks, laboratory analysis, material handling, food service, etc.).
Remodeling/Construction Planning
As hospitals expand, remodel or upgrade, a wonderful opportunity is provided to create a safer environment. Safety Coordinators can assist with plan reviews to ensure that employee and patient safety is addressed and help the hospital plan for modern tools to enhance the workplace.
BloodBorne Pathogens
Core training designed to cover all materials required of the WISHA Standard WAC 296-823, Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. We can assist employers in assessing the need for this program and development of strategies to comply. Training is required at time of hire or assignment to a position with exposure and annually thereafter.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Assistance conducting hazard assessments, equipment selection, and training to meet the PPE rule. Employers must evaluate the workplace, identify the hazards, select the appropriate PPE, provide proper PPE, train the employee, and certify that they have done so.
Safety Committees
Starting a new committee, or upgrading your existing safety committee? Safety Coordinators are available to assist in program design and training of members. WISHA requires safety committees for all employers with over 11 employees at one location.
Workplace Violence Prevention
The modern work place and the societal stress which hospitals commonly encounter makes them a prime location for potential outbreaks of violence. Our Safety Coordinators can assist in design of programs, review of existing programs, and training of staff.
WISHA Compliance
Safety Coordinators can provide assistance with the development and implementation of the required programs to help meet those requirements. We have access to many reference works and expert sources to help find optimal solutions to the challenges created in compliance.
Mock Audit Preparation
Members of the programs are required to meet the self-insured requirements. These requirements allow the program to maintain its group self-insured status. All members will be required to meet these requirements through a group or individual presentation by Workers' Compensation staff every three years, specifically the year prior the next anticipated Department of Labor and Industries audit.
HAZCOM
Assistance developing the required basic chemical hazard awareness training for all new employees and supervisors. Training covers material required by WAC 296-800-170. We can also assist members in auditing their existing chemical hazard programs to ensure quality and compliance with applicable regulations. This training is required at hire for all new employees and upon change to chemical exposures.
Safety Supervisor Development
Safety Coordinators can assist with your leadership training requirements by offering the OSHA General Industry Outreach training. These 10 and 30 hour courses help the designated safety officer or other supervisor to understand the regulatory requirements for safe work environments, as well as provides tools and support group for going forward with your organizations health and safety program. This course is offered only at special times.
Lockout/Tagout
The control of hazardous energy is required by all hospitals. Generally this requirement applies to custodial and maintenance personnel. Safety Coordinators can provide information on the energy control program and training requirements.
Kitchen Safety
Food service providers work in fast changing and challenging circumstances. Training and safety reviews are available which addresses the specific hazards of that work environment.
