NYSHFA to Congress: OSHA ergonomics standard not a good fit.Association says it could damage quality of care SPEAKING TO CONGRESS IN APRIL April: see month. , NEW York State Health Facilities Association (NYSHFA NYSHFA New York State Health Facilities Association ) Treasurer, Leonard Russ, said that the ergonomics standard proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. agency established (1970) in the Dept. of Labor (see Labor, United States Department of) to develop and enforce regulations for the safety and health of workers in businesses that are engaged in interstate (OSHA OSHA n. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a branch of the US Department of Labor responsible for establishing and enforcing safety and health standards in the workplace. ) will have an adverse affect on caregivers in small, independent facilities and clash with current health care regulations. "Long term care employers, like myself, care deeply abot the health and welfare of our employees, and we realize that the health and well being of our patients is tied directly to the health of our caregivers," testified Russ, administrator of Bayberry bayberry, common name for the Myricaceae, a family of trees and shrubs with aromatic foliage, found chiefly in temperate and subtropical regions. The waxy gray "berries" of the North American wild or cultivated bayberry shrubs (chiefly Myrica cerifera Care Center in New Rochelle, N.Y., before the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Paperwork Reduction of the House Small Business Committee. [OSHA's proposed ergonomics regulation] will have a significant and serious detrimental effect on the positive direction LTC employers have already taken," Russ said, according to a report published by the NYSHFA in its NYSHFA News. "Instead of focusing on identifying and solving the problem of musculoskeletal disorders, providers will shift their focus to compliance issues." Russ said his small 60-bed facility, which follows a voluntary ergonomics program, has experienced a very low number of workers compensation claims. "I don't believe I need this new regulation to reduce injuries in my facility because I believe that the steps we have already taken will continue to protect our employees from injury," he said. The standard's existing language could also force caregivers to choose between honoring two sets of conflicting governmental regulations--each with its own set of severe penalties. According to Russ, one of the key challenges to keeping caregivers injury-free concerns the lift and transfer of residents from bed toowheelchair--or from bed to bathroom. He stated that under HCFA HCFA abbr. Health Care Financing Administration HCFA, n.pr See Health Care Financing Administration. rules, residents have the right to object to a mechanical lift for dignity reasons. However, caregivers must honor that request, and that may place them in violation of OSHA's proposed ergonomic standard. Russ also addressed the cost of implementing the proposed standard, which AHCA AHCA Agency for Health Care Administration AHCA American Health Care Association AHCA American Hockey Coaches Association AHCA American Highland Cattle Association AHCA Australian Health Care Agreement AHCA Austin Healey Club of America conservatively estimates is $1.2 billion in the first year alone, |
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