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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Study protocol

A study of leading indicators for occupational health and safety management systems in healthcare

Authors: Joan M Almost, Elizabeth G VanDenKerkhof, Peter Strahlendorf, Louise Caicco Tett, Joanna Noonan, Thomas Hayes, Henrietta Van hulle, Ryan Adam, Jeremy Holden, Tracy Kent-Hillis, Mike McDonald, Geneviève C. Paré, Karanjit Lachhar, Vanessa Silva e Silva

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

In Ontario, Canada, approximately $2.5 billion is spent yearly on occupational injuries in the healthcare sector. The healthcare sector has been ranked second highest for lost-time injury rates among 16 Ontario sectors since 2009 with female healthcare workers ranked the highest among all occupations for lost-time claims. There is a great deal of focus in Ontario’s occupational health and safety system on compliance and fines, however despite this increased focus, the injury statistics are not significantly improving. One of the keys to changing this trend is the development of a culture of healthy and safe workplaces including the effective utilization of leading indicators within Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMSs). In contrast to lagging indicators, which focus on outcomes retrospectively, a leading indicator is associated with proactive activities and consists of selected OHSMSs program elements. Using leading indicators to measure health and safety has been common practice in high-risk industries; however, this shift has not occurred in healthcare. The aim of this project is to conduct a longitudinal study implementing six elements of the Ontario Safety Association for Community and Healthcare (OSACH) system identified as leading indicators and evaluating the effectiveness of this intervention on improving selected health and safety workplace indicators.

Methods

A quasi-experimental longitudinal research design will be used within two Ontario acute care hospitals. The first phase of the study will focus on assessing current OHSMSs using the leading indicators, determining potential facilitators and barriers to changing current OHSMSs, and identifying the leading indicators that could be added or changed to the existing OHSMS in place. Phase I will conclude with the development of an intervention designed to support optimizing current OHSMSs in participating hospitals based on identified gaps. Phase II will pilot test and evaluate the tailored intervention.

Discussion

By implementing specific elements to test leading indicators, this project will examine a novel approach to strengthening the occupational health and safety system. Results will guide healthcare organizations in setting priorities for their OHSMSs and thereby improve health and safety outcomes.
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Metadata
Title
A study of leading indicators for occupational health and safety management systems in healthcare
Authors
Joan M Almost
Elizabeth G VanDenKerkhof
Peter Strahlendorf
Louise Caicco Tett
Joanna Noonan
Thomas Hayes
Henrietta Van hulle
Ryan Adam
Jeremy Holden
Tracy Kent-Hillis
Mike McDonald
Geneviève C. Paré
Karanjit Lachhar
Vanessa Silva e Silva
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3103-0

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