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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was designed to protect healthcare workers against deadly and contagious pathogens in the patient care settings. Considered an effective and potent physical barrier, PPE is a necessary line of defense to minimize hazardous exposure to infectious micro-organisms. However, a recent trend shows that more healthcare workers are not wearing PPE in an appropriate manner or not even wearing it at all. Without this protection, many healthcare workers, patients, and even visitors are at a risk of acquiring hospital-acquired infections. Why the…Continue Reading “Five Ways to Increase PPE Compliance among Healthcare Workers” →

Electrical safety in the healthcare setting can often be overlooked due to the fast-paced and hectic nature of clinical work. Risks Are Real But the risks are real and every year thousands of people suffer from electrical accidents. Electrical burns, shocks, and even death are possible with the common equipment workers are using every day. The majority of electrical injuries are caused by defective equipment, unsafe work environments, or failure to follow electrical safety guidelines. However, damaged electrical cords are the most common cause of…Continue Reading “Keeping Healthcare Workers Safe from Electrical Hazards” →

Silent Epidemic Malnutrition is considered the silent epidemic in acute care hospitals. Often unrecognized and undiagnosed in the hectic environment of the acute hospital setting, both patients and hospitals are being negatively impacted by this highly prevalent condition. Decades of research show that malnourishment can have a detrimental effect on patients’ recovery and lead to a higher risk of complications such as compromised immune systems, infections, delayed wound healing, and general muscle wasting. Delivering Care Hospitals also feel the burden of these adverse patient complications…Continue Reading “The Hidden Costs of Malnutrition on Australian Hospitals” →

Laundry bins serve an important function in the hospital environment as they are used to transport dirty laundry to and from the laundry room. Because of the volume of laundry that is produced, large bins are needed to effectively move these heavy loads to the laundry department. Risk Factors However, laundry work can be hazardous to workers’ health. Lifting and moving wet, heavy laundry can cause unnecessary strain to the body resulting in very painful musculoskeletal disorders. The hands, limbs, shoulders, neck, torso, and especially…Continue Reading “Preventing Injuries through Ergonomic Laundry Bins” →

Did you know that one third of a hospital’s garbage is made up of plastics? Of this massive amount of plastic waste, 25% of it is composed of PVC plastic medical products that are used directly in the patient care setting. Intravenous bags, face masks, and oxygen tubing are common items that are needed everywhere patient care is delivered. Medical wards, post-operative surgical wards, intensive care units, operating rooms, day surgery, and outpatient services are just a few of the examples where PVC products are…Continue Reading “Making PVC Plastic Recycling Programs a Success at Your Hospital” →

When a smoke alarm sounds in your aged care nursing home, does panic cloud the judgment and responsiveness of your healthcare staff or do they respond in a concise, competent manner that prioritizes the safety and evacuation of the residents? Obviously, the latter response is preferred. Lives are at risk and it is imperative that every staff member knows what to do. Responding to a fire emergency in an effective way is facilitated by on-site fire safety training at your facility. New employees should be…Continue Reading “FIRE SAFETY TRAINING IN AGED CARE NURSING HOMES” →

The Hazards The hazards that face remote healthcare workers have been a significant concern for quite some time. Inadequate staffing, workplace violence, late night medical calls, and concerns for personal safety are just a few of the dangers that put remote workers at risk for harm. After the 2016 assaults on remote area nurses as well as the devastating murder of remote nurse Gayle Woodford in the APY Lands, anger and alarm rippled throughout the country and heralded in new initiatives to facilitate strategies that…Continue Reading “IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF THE NURSING WORKFORCE IN REMOTE AUSTRALIA” →