Nursing Homes and Personal Care Facilities
Overview
Health care workers face a number of serious safety and health hazards. They include workplace violence; lifting and repositioning patients; chemical and drug exposure; and respiratory and other infections. Many healthcare facilities also employ workers in the areas of mechanical maintenance, medical equipment maintenance, housekeeping, food service, building and grounds maintenance, and laundry - which have their own occupational hazards.
The proper information and resources can help health care employers control risks to staff and train workers on potential hazards associated with each job.
Standards
Highlights standards information related to nursing homes and personal healthcare facilities.
OSHA Enforcement
Directs employers and employees to OSHA enforcement policy and guidance documents that pertain to nursing and residential care facilities.
Hazards and Solutions
Provides a list of the most prevalent hazards in this industry and possible solutions for hazards associated with working in nursing homes and personal care facilities.
Safety and Health Programs
Provides references that were selected to assist in developing a safety and health program for nursing homes and personal care facilities.
Additional Resources
Provides links and references to additional resources related to first aid.
OSHA's COVID-19 Safety and Health Topics page provides specific information about protecting workers from coronavirus during the ongoing outbreak.
- Enforcement Procedures and Scheduling for Occupational Exposure to Workplace Violence. OSHA Directive CPL 02-01-058, (January 10, 2017).
- Safe Patient Handling -- Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders in Nursing Homes. OSHA Publication 3108, (February 2014).
- Guidelines for Nursing Homes: Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders. OSHA Publication 3182, (2003, Revised March 2009). Provides guidelines that identify and provide recommendations for nursing home employers to help reduce the number and severity of work-related MSDs in their facilities.