California requires general acute care hospitals to have a comprehensive plan to prevent patient handling injuries (PHIs) among employees. The safe patient handling (SPH) law took effect in 2012. This study assessed the impact of the SPH law on workers’ compensation claims for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among California hospital workers.
Methods:
We used California Workers’ Compensation Information System data from 2007-2016 and analyzed claims for MSDs that occurred in acute care hospitals compared with nursing and residential care facilities. MSD claims...
Background: Mitigating bloodborne pathogen exposure (BBPE) risk among healthcare workers is a major focus of hospital-based occupational health programs. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed added demands on occupational health services for healthcare workers. Its impact on BBPE incidence is unreported. Methods: As part of quality improvement efforts, we examined BBPE case incidence at two affiliated health centers during a 24-month period, 12 months preceding and following the COVID-19 pandemic onset. We used Year 1 to Year 2 change in incidence at the larger health center...
In this webinar we will use occupational and safety health principles on how to improve conditions and reduce the risk of injuries to look at the problem of injuries caused by student behaviors affecting paraeducators, special education teachers and other affected staff. We will also have an expert available to answer questions around managing incidents.
This presentation by LOHP in collaboration with COEH is based on the School Action for Safety and Health (SASH) administered by the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation in the...
Dr. Potocko has been serving in the U.S. Navy for 28 years, with a long-anticipated retirement in Nov 2022. He has studied aerospace engineering, flown high-performance Naval aircraft, deployed aboard aircraft carriers, and embedded with Marine helicopter squadrons as a Flight Surgeon.
Thursday, February 6 (Online) & Friday, February 7, 2025 (In-Person | Berkeley, CA)
Emergencies—ranging from infectious disease outbreaks to natural disasters—present complex and evolving challenges for workplace health and safety. Join the Northern California Centers for Occupational and Environmental Health for a two-day symposium designed to empower professionals with tools and strategies to navigate crises with confidence. Delve into the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and examine best practices for mitigating infectious disease risks in the workplace....
Produced in partnership with the California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Workers' Compensation, this course will provide a clear and comprehensive outline of essential components for a Workers' Compensation Medical Legal Report. Review key concepts and terminology, identify statutes and regulations governing medical legal report writing in California, and leverage the QME Guided Report Quality Assurance Checklist to author medical legal reports that withstand scrutiny, effectively communicate findings, and serve as compelling evidence in legal proceedings.
Causes for health inequity for residents living in rural communities across the United States are multifaceted. For the state of Hawaiʻi, improving the immediate health care access, quality, and affordability relies on comprehensive health care policies and the hiring and retention of medical staff. This presentation will focus on research that focused on workforce solutions to recruit, improve, and engage rural healthcare staff turnover in Hawai’i.
Conference Sessions are Now Available Online, On-Demand
Climate change is pressing public health crisis that is already impacting the world of work. Join the Northern California Centers for Occupational and Environmental Health for a deep dive into the chemical, biological, and physical hazards of navigating climate extremes. Learn about the rising prevalence of Valley Fever, a fungal infection caused by inhaling dust or soil particles, particularly in drought-affected regions. Discuss the impacts of rising temperatures on worker safety, heat-related illness, and...
Delve into the intricacies of medical legal report writing and unlock your potential to create reports that withstand scrutiny, effectively communicate findings, and serve as compelling evidence in legal proceedings. Differentiate between contributing-causal factors, both industrial and nonindustrial, influencing the resultant permanent disability. Develop proficiency in assessing the percentage of permanent disability caused by work injuries or industrial exposure, while considering the impact of other nonindustrial contributing factors. Learn to employ the most...
