Employee Training and Involvement
All healthcare facility employees are at risk, therefore, all employees should be trained on how to recognize STF hazards, and be involved in the development and implementation of prevention strategies.
It is important to have written housekeeping procedures that require all employees (including direct patient care staff such as nurses) to immediately report spills/snow/ice etc. to initiate a prompt response by the housekeeping or facilities departments.
Below are some important things to remember to increase employee awareness and involvement:
- Make cleaning and safety supplies and products easily accessible to all staff.
- Incorporate slip, trip, and fall awareness and prevention into routine safety training.
- Conduct general awareness campaigns (i.e., booths, posters, emails, paycheck inserts, and incentives) educating employees about the risk of STFs and what they can do to prevent injuries.
- Encourage them to carry emergency numbers for housekeeping to quickly report floor contaminations or hazards.
- Reinforce the use of prevention equipment (handrails and appropriate footwear for example) frequently with staff.
- Track success: Provide feedback during training, on bulletin boards, and in meetings on STF injury rates to maintain effective ongoing awareness of the progress being made.
When employees know the causes of slips and falls and understand the technical components including types of flooring and types of treatments, they too can help to recognize, evaluate, and control hazards.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-3. What can be done to help maintain effective ongoing awareness of the progress being made in reducing STFs?
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