OSHA and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations Align to Reduce Exposure to Biological and Airborne Hazards in Healthcare

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has joined with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the Joint Commission Resources, Inc. (JCR) to educate the healthcare community on safety and health issues for healthcare workers.

The alliance unites JCAHO/JCR and OSHA on efforts to provide education and compliance assistance to healthcare organizations and others with information and access to training resources on biological and airborne hazard topics, in addition to emergency preparedness, ergonomics, and workplace violence.

"We're looking forward to working with both organizations, particularly on emerging occupational biological and airborne safety and health issues in the workplace," said OSHA administrator John Henshaw.  "By drawing on the expertise of JCAHO/JCR, together we can make positive strides in ensuring that healthcare workers are armed with the tools they need to stay safe and healthy at work." 

 "We're pleased to partner with OSHA to improve and advance workplace safety and health," said Dennis S. O'Leary, MD, president of JCAHO. "This alliance is a logical extension of our long-standing working relationship that will benefit the more than 16,000 accredited healthcare organizations by helping them address issues affecting the safety and health of their employees." 

OSHA and JCAHO/JCR will work together to develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and communicate that information throughout the industry. Information will be shared among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding JCAHO/JCR best practices or effective approaches, and then publicized through OSHA- or JCAHO/JCR-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars and lectures.

 Source: JCAHO