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Date Signed February 19, 2004 Date Renewed August 27, 2006 April 28, 2008 Overview The OSHA and AOHP Alliance is providing the association’s members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources to help them protect employees’ health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to patient-handling hazards, bloodborne diseases, and emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities. Implementation Team Members OSHA: Sheila Arbury - Office of Occupational Health Nursing, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management (DTSEM) AOHP: Barbara Brown - Solano County Health and Social Services Department; AOHP Member Evaluation Period February 19, 2011 - February 18, 2012 April 5, 2011 - Implementation Team Meeting August 9, 2011 - Implementation Team Meeting November 9, 2011 - Implementation Team Meeting In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from both groups maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor the Alliance’s progress and results. Training and Education Goal During this evaluation period, the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Implementation Team has not completed work on programs or projects to address this goal. Outreach and Communication Goals Products AOHP and OSHA Alliance-related Web Page The AOHP and OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the AOHP Web site features information about the OSHA and AOHP Alliance, including a link to the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site. The page also includes a number of links to additional safety and health resources, including the OSHA Distracted Driving Initiative, the OSHA Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers, the OSHA Hospital eTool and a number of OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages. OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web Page OSHA continues to maintain and update the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site. The page includes links to OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages, the Alliance’s activities and events and information on the Alliance’s products and resources. Print and Electronic Media Information on the activities of the OSHA and AOHP Alliance has appeared in print and online publications, including the AOHP Journal and the AOHPQuarterly Newsletter. In addition, an article entitled "Seasonal Flu" was written by MaryAnn Gruden and published in the December 2011 edition of the Alliance Quarterly Review (AQR). The AQR article offers information on how to stop the spread of infectious diseases such as influenza. For more information on the articles please see the "Alliance Program Reach" table. OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages An AOHP representative served on the editorial boards of the following OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages, providing OSHA with expertise and technical review until January 18, 2012: OSHA’s eTools AOHP representatives served on the editorial board of the following OSHA eTool, providing OSHA with expertise and technical review until January 18, 2012: Event AOHP Annual National Conference, September 28 - October 1, 2011, Minneapolis, Minnesota OSHA supported AOHP’s National Conference through the following activities: In addition, AOHP distributed products developed through the OSHA and AOHP Alliance to 180 conference attendees. Products "Beyond Getting Started: Respiratory Protection in Healthcare Settings Web Reference Guide" Through the OSHA and AOHP Alliance, AOHP developed a reference guide for Web page resources and links that addresses respiratory protection in healthcare and posted it to the AOHP Alliance Web page. A link to the document is posted on the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site. "Beyond Getting Started: A Resource Guide for Implementing a Safe Patient Handling Program in the Acute Care Setting" Through the OSHA and AOHP Alliance, AOHP revised the guidance document, initially published in September 2006, and posted the updated resource on the AOHP Alliance Web page. A link to the document is posted on the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web page. Events The Association of Occupational Health Professionals and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported 2011 NAOSH Week. Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers, an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. The theme for 2011 was "Celebrating a Century of Safety." To help support the event, AOHP disseminated information about the 2011 NAOSH Week to its membership through publishing a press release, emailing NAOSH materials to AOHP staff and members, and by including promotional information on the AOHP Web page. Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and AOHP are working together to develop resources that will focus on reducing and preventing exposure to patient-handling hazards, bloodborne diseases, and emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities. The positive relationship that AOHP has developed over the past eight years has led to the development of many projects that the team is currently working on or has produced. Through the Alliance Program, AOHP developed a reference guide for Web page resources and links that addresses respiratory protection in healthcare. The "Beyond A Getting Started: Respiratory Protection in Healthcare Settings Web Reference Guide" was posted on the AOHP Alliance Web page, and OSHA linked to the reference guide from the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site. In addition, through the Alliance, AOHP revised the "Beyond Getting Started: A Resource Guide for Implementing a Safe Patient Handling Program in the Acute Care Setting" that was initially published in September 2006, and posted the updated resource on the AOHP Alliance Web page. A link to the document is posted on the OSHA and AOHP Alliance Web page. The Alliance is continuing to distribute information and increase awareness of safety and health issues for their industry professionals. AOHP invited OSHA representatives from a Region V Area Office to speak and staff an Alliance Program exhibit booth at their Annual National Conference, September 28 - October 1, 2011, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AOHP representatives shared their expertise with OSHA through participation on the editorial boards for the following OSHA Safety and Health topics pages until January 18, 2012: AOHP members also continued to serve on the OSHA editorial board for the Hospital eTool until January 18, 2012. Finally, as part of their outreach, AOHP supported and promoted the 2011 NAOSH Week by distributing information to members and adding information about the event on the AOHP Web site. In 2012, OSHA and AOHP will continue to focus on reducing and preventing exposure to patient-handling hazards, bloodborne diseases, and emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities. The OSHA and AOHP Implementation Team members will be discussing a number of activities to be undertaken in the upcoming year. For example, AOHP will develop a guidance document referencing Web resources for workplace violence in healthcare facilities. AOHP will also continue to provide their expertise to OSHA by providing feedback as requested on draft Web pages developed by OSHA. In continuing the exhibiting and speaking goal, OSHA representatives will be asked to participate at the AOHP Annual National Conference. OSHA personnel from Region IX will be requested to staff an Alliance exhibit booth and to give a presentation at the conference, October 3-6, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Finally, AOHP representatives will be joining other Alliance Program participants to support the 2012 North American Occupational Safety and Health NAOSH Week, May 6-12, 2012, "Safety, What Every Business Needs." Report prepared by: Morgan Seuberling, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, March 12, 2012 |