Health and Safety for RNs | Workplace Violence
Advocating for Health and Safety in the workplace is a protected right. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) protects health and safety advocacy as a concerted activity. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) protects it under section 11 (c) of the OSH Act of 1970. Nurses represented by a union have further protections, under contractual language negotiated into contracts.
The Global Conference on Environmentally Sustainable Health Care, CleanMed 2008 is being held May 20-22, at the Hilton Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
More than a conference and exhibition, CleanMed is the sharing of best practices, lively discussion on industry trends, and a social forum for networking. Attendees engage in sharing insights and successful strategies on implementing environmentally preferable purchasing initiatives at their facilities.
Designed by and for healthcare professionals, CleanMed offers up to 10 hours of continuing education credits. CleanMed is a connection to safer, cleaner, more sustainable products and practices. Register online today, and to learn more, visit www.cleanmed.org.
February begins a 3 month period when private and public employers must post a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred during 2007. They are an important tool in tracking on the job injuries and illnesses.
Summaries must be posted in a workplace common area or bulletin board from February 1 through April 30. Copies of the summaries must also be made available to employees who move from worksite to worksite, including homecare nurses and employees who do not report to a fixed establishment on a regular basis.
On December 11, the Environmental Working Group, ANA, Health Care Without Harm and the Environmental Health Education Center, University of Maryland School of Nursing released results of an online national survey of nurses and chemical exposures, employing a convenience sample. The results are now posted online. For nurses interested in more involvement in this issue, the RN-HEAT task force may be just the advocacy group for you; contact Tom Lowe at NYSNA's NYC Office: 212.785.0157 for additional information.
Nurses interested in health and safety, particularly facility committee members, now have a ready online resource for OSHA information. This resource identifies some major OSHA requirements, and guidance materials that may apply to your healthcare facility.
“The Nurses Role in Environmental Health” (.pdf; Adobe Reader required)