eTools Home :Hospital Scope | Glossary | References | Site Map | Credits







Hospital eTool

Hospital
Hospital Hospital Hospital
Hospital Clinical Services Hospital Hospital Pharmacy
Hospital Pharmacy
Clinical Services Hospital
Clinical Services Hospital Hospital Heliport Hospital
Hospital
HealthCare Wide Hazards
Hospital Hospital
Hospital Surgical Surgical Dietary Hospital
Hospital
Intensive Care Labratory Labratory Hospital
Hospital
Hospital Hospital Hospital
Emergency Room Emergency Room Hospital
Hospital
Hospital Administration Laundry
Ambulance Hospital Hospital Housekeeping
Hospital Hospital
Hospital Central Supply
Central Supply Central Supply Hospital
Hospital Engineering Hospital
Engineering
Hospital
Hospital
Hospital Hospital
Hospital
Hospital
The OSH Act of 1970 strives to "assure safe and healthful working conditions" for today's workers, and mandates that employers provide a safe work environment for employees. Hospitals and personal care facilities employ approximately 1.6 million workers at 21,000 work sites. There are many occupational health and safety hazards throughout the hospital. This eTool* focuses on some of the hazards and controls found in the hospital setting, and describes standard requirements as well as recommended safe work practices for employee safety and health.

This eTool addresses the following areas:

How do I find out about employer responsibilities and worker rights?

Workers have a right to a safe workplace. The law requires employers to provide their employees with working conditions that are free of known dangers. The OSHA law also prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for exercising their rights under the law (including the right to raise a health and safety concern or report an injury). For more information see www.whistleblowers.gov or worker rights.

OSHA has a great deal of information to assist employers in complying with their responsibilities under the OSHA law.

OSHA can help answer questions or concerns from employers and workers. To reach your regional or area OSHA office, go to OSHA's Regional & Area Offices webpage or call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).

Small business employers may contact OSHA's free and confidential On-site Consultation program to help determine whether there are hazards at their worksites and work with OSHA on correcting any identified hazards. Consultants in this program from state agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards, provide advice on compliance with OSHA standards, and assist in establishing injury and illness prevention programs. On-site Consultation services are separate from enforcement activities and do not result in penalties or citations. To contact OSHA's free consultation service, go to OSHA's On-site Consultation web page or call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) and press number 4.

Workers may file a complaint to have OSHA inspect their workplace if they believe that their employer is not following OSHA standards or that there are serious hazards. Employees can file a complaint with OSHA by calling 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), online via eComplaint Form, or by printing the complaint form and mailing or faxing it to your local OSHA area office. Complaints that are signed by an employee are more likely to result in an inspection.

If you think your job is unsafe or you have questions, contact OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742). It's confidential. We can help. For other valuable worker protection information, such as Workers' Rights, Employer Responsibilities, and other services OSHA offers, visit OSHA's Workers' page.

*eTools are "stand-alone", interactive, Web-based training tools on occupational safety and health topics. They are highly illustrated and utilize graphical menus as well as expert system modules. These modules enable the user to answer questions, and receive reliable advice on how OSHA regulations apply to their work site. As indicated in the disclaimer, eTools do not create new OSHA requirements.


eTools Home :Hospital Scope | Glossary | References | Site Map | Credits