OSHA warns 60 hospitals on high injury rates

OSHA warns 60 hospitals on high injury rates

Sixty hospitals were among the 14,000 employers nationwide who received cautionary letters from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for high rates of employee injury.

Each year, OSHA identified workplaces with the highest rates of injury and illness based on a survey of 80,000 worksites. Those with 5.4 or more injuries resulting in days away from work, restricted work activity, or job transfer (DART) for every 100 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) received the letters. The national average was 2.3 DART injuries and illnesses per 100 FTEs.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants" had among the highest incidence rates for injuries resulting in days away from work 526 per 10,000 workers. The rate was higher than for construction workers or heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, largely due to patient handling.

OSHA suggests employers work with its consultation service or their workers' compensation insurer to lower injury rates.