FIVE BEST PRACTICES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF EMPLOYEE INCIDENTS BY JANE ADLER
SAFETY FIRST. There’s a reason why this mantra is common in work- places nationwide. Employee injuries and incidents are a major concern for all types of businesses, cutting into productivity, reducing profits, and sometimes even re- sulting in expensive lawsuits. Add to that the human toll of workers whose personal lives are disrupted by on- the-job incidents. Senior living is no exception. In fact, employee injuries
at senior living communities occur more frequently than in other industries, though the injuries also tend to be less severe than in other jobs. Senior living communities had a nonfatal injury and ill-
ness incidence rate of 6.5 per 100 full-time workers in 2016, according to the most recent statistics available from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Sta- tistics. This compares to an incidence rate of 2.9 cases per 100 employees across all industries. The average assisted living community will have 2.5
injuries for every $1 million of payroll per year, according to Assurance, an insurance brokerage company. Assisted
living jobs are mostly physical in nature as staff members are required to bend and lift as they help residents with their activities of daily living. Back and shoulder strains are the most common injuries, typically incurred when transferring a resident. Slips and falls are also frequent causes of injury to work-
ers. Wet shower rooms, cluttered back hallways, and busy dining venues can be dangerous places. Uncooperative and combative residents also pose a risk to workers, ac- counting for a number of injuries particularly in memory care neighborhoods and communities. Other types of incidents are becoming more common,
too. Claims of harassment and risks associated with so- cial media must be addressed by executive directors and other managers. Best practices can lessen the damage. A series of well
thought out policies and procedures can help keep em- ployees safe, and also help reduce the cost of lost days at work and the potential for lawsuits. Here are five best practices to reduce risk to both employees and senior living providers:
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