Employee and Staff Safety

No one enters a career in healthcare with any expectation to be injured at work. When we think of safety in healthcare, we often think of patient safety. Healthcare organizations work to make hospitals and clinics safe for patients. Yet, despite extensive patient safety work, healthcare remains one of the most dangerous industries for its employees. We know that safe workplaces lead to better outcomes, increased productivity, and efficiency. Key stakeholders, planning, and resources are essential for workplace improvement. Through our hospital’s journey to establish a centralized employee and staff safety program, we demonstrated the integral relationship between quality improvement and employee safety. Quality improvement methodologies and tools, along with leadership support, can help improve workplace safety. Our hospital’s employee safety journey concentrated on reducing sharps injuries, blood and body fluid exposures, falls, overexertion injuries, and workplace violence led to a decrease in serious employee injuries and a safer environment.