Occupational Health and Safety

Chapter 11: Occupational Health and Safety

Description:

The nature of nursing means that every day many nurses are injured or become ill as a result of work. Causes include physical violence, ergonomic hazards (such as manual handling), exposure to infectious diseases (airborne, blood borne and direct contact), fatigue (due to physically and mentally demanding work), work organisation and shift work, radiation (ionising and non-ionising), handling toxic drugs and exposure to chemicals.

Nurse managers, whether employed by government departments or private organisations, are dependent on the work conditions and resources provided by that employer. They must therefore be advocates for their own occupational health and safety (OHS), and be proactive in providing a high standard of occupational health and safety for the people in their sphere of responsibility.

Topics:

• Legal requirements
• Hazards and risks
  • Hazards
  • Risks
  • Far-reaching consequences
  • Key areas for OHS focus
• Safety management for inputs
• Safety management of work activities
• Safety management of outputs
• Safety management functions
• Benefits
• Conclusion
• References

Speakers / Authors:

Dr Janis Jansz
Janis qualified as a registered nurse in 1969, subsequently completed her midwifery qualifications at King Edward Memorial Hospital in Western Australia, followed by qualifications in the care of premature and sick neonates and in coronary care. At Curtin University (Western Australia) Janis completed a degree in applied science (nursing management), a graduate diploma in occupational health and safety and a master’s degree in public health; and from Edith Cowan University (Western Australia) she obtained a doctorate of philosophy.

Janis has worked in a variety of city and country nursing positions as a clinical nurse in most areas of nursing and in a range of managerial positions. Janis is still a registered nurse for CPE Healthcare and in this position has worked in many government and private hospitals, and some nursing homes. Currently a senior lecturer in occupational health and safety/environmental health at Curtin University, she is also the director of World Safety Organisation National Office for Australia, the Western Australian board of management’s representative for the Safety Institute of Australia and an adjunct senior lecture in the School of Communications and Contemporary Arts at Edith Cowan University.

Sherrilyn Shaw-Mills
Sherrilyn has a master’s degree in occupational health and safety, and a bachelor’s degree of commerce with a double major in human resource management and industrial relations. Sherrilyn has worked in both employer- and insurance-based positions and has extensive, broad-based consulting experience. She has worked extensively with clients to overcome problems and improve performance in the areas of occupational safety and health, workers compensation, employee and industrial relations and injury management. Currently, Sherrilyn is a director of Injury Claims Management and has been involved in occupational health and safety, injury management, vocational rehabilitation and workers compensation since 1997.

Professional Reviews: