Injury Prevention

Emergency Situations and Critical Incidents

Medical Emergency, Major Trauma, or Life Threatening Incidents:

        Occasionally, an employee may encounter an unusual, unexpected, or emergency situation in the home. The employee is required to act according to the nature and severity of the incident.

•  Call 911 immediately.
• Report what has happened to the office.
• The Administrator/Manager will notify the client’s emergency contact and the physician.
• Stay with the client until help arrives and the situation is under control.

Non-Life Threatening Incidents:

• Make the client comfortable.
• Inform the office and the family.
• Follow the Administrator/Manager’s instructions.

Incident Reports:

        Immediately following an incident, the employee involved must complete an incident report form and review the incident with the supervisor. Examples of incidents which must be reported include but are not limited to client complaints, accidents and/or injury to employees or clients, equipment or medical device failure or malfunction, theft, suspicion of abuse, neglect or exploitation, and criminal activity.

• The supervisor will follow up on any reported incidents as appropriate.
• Actions taken and resolutions of identified problems will be documented.
• A log will be kept of all incidents.
• Incident reports and logs will be reviewed on an ongoing basis to note trends.

INJURY PREVENTION

        In order to reduce accidents and injury to staff, environmental conditions should be monitored, potential hazards and risks should be identified, and staff should be educated in maintaining a hazard-free environment, as follows:

Office Safety

• Employees are responsible for keeping their work areas neat and orderly.
• Equipment, supplies, and furniture are used, stored, and maintained in a safe manner.
• Regular safety survey reviews and correct housekeeping practices as applicable.
• Staff is instructed to report any known or suspected hazards to their supervisors.
• Safety practices are reviewed regularly for potential hazards in the office environment.

Hazard Assessment and Control

Fire Prevention

• Local, county, and district Fire Departments are consulted for codes and ordinances.
• Fire drills are held periodically.
• Staff is instructed to meet at a specific safe location outside agency premises in order to count employees and determine that everyone has safely evacuated the building.
• Fire extinguishers are inspected and maintained regularly.
• Fire evacuation routes are posted conspicuously in prominent locations.
• Employees are educated in fire prevention, evacuation, and use of fire extinguishers.

Pertinent Safety Issues

• Employees are educated regarding their roles in emergency and disaster situations.
• During joint home visits, home safety practices are evaluated as part of performance evaluations.
• Motor vehicle safety and proper use of cell phones are stressed.
• Employees are schooled in Ergonomics and body mechanics related to job performance.
• Employees are educated in electrical safety as it relates to medical equipment.
• Safety issues are presented at orientation, in-services, and at regular meeting.
• Memos, flyers, and bulletin boards are used to communicate safety issues.
• Safety materials and practices are reviewed and modified annually

Safety Communications

• Safety issues are presented at orientation, in-services, and at regular meeting.
• Memos, flyers, and bulletin boards are used to communicate safety issues.
• Safety materials and practices are reviewed and modified annually