During OSHA’s Safe and Sound Week, hospitals focusing on improving workplace safety

Workplace safety remains a top concern for every industry in the United States. In 2015, 4,836 workers were killed on the job, equating to 13 deaths a day. Roughly 5,190 workers were killed in 2016 (14 deaths a day). In order to combat this serious issue, organizations across the country are attempting to implement creative and new ways to ensure workplace safety. According to WYTV, an Ohio hospital is even using a scavenger hunt to teach employees workplace safety skills. East Liverpool City Hospital is participating in a nationwide event put on by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The goal of OSHA’s Safe and Sound Week is to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of workplace safety and health initiatives. Hospital employees will learn about potential safety hazards and how to handle certain situations that could arise throughout a medical environment. Employees will earn tickets for successfully handling different safety hazards, and can redeem them later on for prizes such as: AAA Traveler Road Kit, FirstAlert Combination Smoke, Carbon Monoxide Alarm, and a Samsung SmartThings Home Security System. In Oregon, another creative way to improve workplace safety at hospitals has been introduced as well. According to Lake Oswego Patch, Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced recently announced a new and collaborative workplace safety toolkit that will help prevent worker injuries. Gov. Brown joined Oregon’s hospitals, doctors’ organizations, and nurses’ organizations to announce the new workplace safety toolkit. The kit was designed collaboratively, alongside various labor groups, and when implemented throughout Oregon’s medical facilities, will increase employee safety. “Our health care workers support and protect every Oregonian during the most difficult periods of their lives,” said Gov. Brown. “In order for them to focus on their jobs, they first need to be safe.” The workplace safety toolkit is available through OAHHS.org/safety.