JCH&L Reaches Safety Milestone

Jefferson Community Health & Life reached an important safety milestone on July 19: logging an entire year without an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable incident.

“With about 260 staff members, that means we have achieved 347,637 total labor hours without a serious injury,” said Patrick Hoins, JCH&L Facilities Director. “We are proud of the ownership our staff has taken in ensuring their own safety, and the safety of others.”

This includes all areas of JCH&L: health center, long-term care, fitness center, and clinics. An OSHA recordable injury or illness includes work-related injury or illness that results in days away from work, restricted work, or transfer to another job, and in general any work-related injury or illness requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.

“Our safety process is built from the iceberg model, encouraging all staff to find hazards and report them so they can be taken care of before anyone gets hurt,” Hoins said.

In 2019, staff members have reported 25 near misses or unsafe conditions. When an unsafe condition or near miss is reported, it is investigated as appropriate, reviewed by the safety committee, and action plans are developed as needed. All types of injuries and potential injuries are tracked and evaluated monthly. Information is shared with all departments about the basics of any incident, including causes and potential barriers to a safe working environment.

“Thank you to our conscientious staff and our active safety committee for their work to help us reach this milestone,” Hoins said.