Tony Prospero
Senior Risk Management Consultant
Safety concerns remain a priority for senior care facilities. This isn’t surprising given that about 150,000 employees in nursing homes and personal care facilities are injured every year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These injuries mainly result from slips, trips, falls, and overexertion.
In its 2024 General and Professional Liability Benchmark Report for long-term care and senior living providers, Marsh McLennan Agency found that falls remain the leading cause of claims, accounting for nearly 50% of them over the past decade.
Adding to the concern is the fact that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been focusing on the long-term care industry since 2022.1 This makes it even more crucial for every facility to develop a workable and sustainable safety strategy as soon as possible.
Some facilities have successfully established cultures that define safety procedures and encourage practices that foster a safer environment. Others face challenges in this area.
Your facility may have attempted to improve safety procedures, but you might still be falling short. However, you can still work to establish a zero-accident safety culture.
How a 5-point safety program could be your answer
When you build a strong culture of safety, it permeates the entire organization. This ensures that, regardless of who is doing the work or managing the property, the culture remains an integral part of the facility.
Here’s how to create a 5-point safety program in your facility. If you’re ready to learn more about the specifics of how to make it work, contact your Marsh McLennan Agency senior living specialist.
Point 1. Start with management commitment and employee empowerment.
Commitment and involvement are essential elements of a sound employee safety program. Commitment by management provides organizational resources and the motivating force necessary to deal effectively with all safety hazards.
Management should view worker safety and health as a basic value and prioritize those issues. Involvement in the program encourages employees to demonstrate their commitment to safety and health protection for themselves and their coworkers.
To ensure management is committed and employees are actively involved, OSHA offers a series of recommendations that can be implemented.
Point 2. Ensure proper medical and disability management.
This may be necessary to eliminate or mitigate the risk of occupational injuries through early identification and treatment, as well as to potentially prevent future issues during rehabilitation.
Health care providers should be part of the injury prevention team. After an on-site review, they should regularly interact and exchange information with the person responsible for reporting injuries.
Medical management consists of two basic areas:
Pre-injury: Select a qualified medical provider.
Once the provider is chosen, they will need an orientation on the specific jobs in the facility and any potential issues that may arise.
Post-injury: What the employee who reports claims must do
Effectively communicate with all parties after a patient or employee suffers an injury or illness that requires medical treatment beyond first aid. This may include initial medical treatment, follow-up care, and facilitating the employee's return to work.
Medical management also requires clear communication with the workers’ compensation carrier. Immediate filing is one of the most important factors in effective case management, ensuring prompt approval and reimbursement.
Point 3. Conduct a thorough worksite analysis.
This may help you identify existing hazards and conditions, as well as work habits that could create hazards, and areas where hazards might develop. This includes any ergonomic information related to lifting and transferring residents. Having this information helps you create and implement effective solutions.
Point 4. Develop hazard prevention and control.
Preventing safety hazards primarily involves:
- Choosing the right equipment
- Effectively using assistive devices
- Implementing proper work practices
- Increasing employee awareness of safety concerns and practices
- Conducting ongoing inspections to detect safety hazards
You may further ensure control and prevention with:
- Proper work practices that are clearly communicated and enforced
- Consistent and fair disciplinary actions
- Safety committees that help develop, administer, and monitor safety programs
- Written policies and procedures that are communicated clearly and regularly updated
- Engineering controls, including regularly maintained non-resident and resident handling equipment
Point 5. Implement training and education.
To ensure that every safety process functions as planned, establish an ongoing training program that teaches all employees how to recognize risks, minimize or eliminate them, and address their concerns. Training programs should be designed and implemented by qualified personnel and presented in a language and at a level of understanding that is appropriate for the individuals being trained.
The right partner can make it easier to create a more effective safety culture.
Marsh McLennan Agency is here to help you develop a culture of safety that supports your staff and helps your residents thrive. We offer personalized risk assessments and solutions that proactively help you manage and mitigate risk, allowing you to focus on providing high-quality care. To learn more, please contact your Marsh McLennan senior living specialist.
