Steve Wilder, CHSP, STS, is president and chief operating officer of Sorensen, Wilder & Associates (SWA), a healthcare safety and security consulting group based in Bourbonnais, Ill. SWA performs workplace safety compliance audits and security vulnerability assessments in all types of healthcare facilities. Wilder can be reached at (800) 568-2931 or swilder@swa4safety.com.
"My employees want to carry a concealed weapon to work." The decision to allow or prohibit "concealed carry" on your premises is a lot more complicated than you think, even if state law allows it. Read More »
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has passed rules that forbid retaliation and discrimination for reporting injuries, including post-accident drug testing and "incentive" programs that retaliate against those who bring workplace safety violations to light. Read More »
Many in the long-term care industry applaud the proposed legislation to require assistive devices in all lifting cases, but no one is sure how compliance will be enforced—or who's going to pay for all the equipment. Read More »
Short power outages can wreak havoc on a skilled nursing facility's processes and ability to care for residents. Long outages can be devastating. These tips can help you beef up your preparedness. Read More »
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is about to get tougher on injuries casued by lifting- and transferring-related activities. Here's how to rework your lifting protocols and educate your staff. Read More »
A completely secure long-term care environment only can be accomplished with thoughtful planning and performance. Take five steps to keep residents, staff, visitors and property safe. Read More »
Your first step in creating a secure facility is to engage a healthcare security professional to take a hard look at your long-term care operation to offer recommendations and solutions to security issues. Read More »
Part one of a two-part series focuses on the benefits of conducting thorough accident investigations. The lessons learned help create safer workplaces. Read More »
When OSHA surveyors come knocking, neither the organization nor its employees can be bullied. Compliance expert Steve Wilder explains everyone's rights during an inspection. Read More »
Do your employees and administrators know what to do when someone's domestic violence problems follow them to work? Long-Term Living's safety expert explains what facilities can do to protect themselves and others. Read More »
You cannot retaliate against an employee just because he or she exercised the right to demand a safe work environment and perhaps filed a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. But here's what you can do. Read More »
Have you shaken the dust off your emergency preparedness plan lately? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has added some new requirements to what must be in an emergency operations plan and how employees must be trained. Read More »
The mission statement and core values of your facility probably contain wording and ideology related to compassionate resident care. The active shooter policy for your facility also should consider that care, and it must consider the safety of employees, too. Part 2 in our series. Read More »
Does your facility have policies and procedures to handle the potential presence of armed intruders? Unfortunately, the scenario is not as unlikely as you might suspect. Lockdowns are one part of any good response. Part 1 in our series. Read More »
Nowhere in a facility is entirely free of safety hazards. Finding and fixing the potential areas of risk is key to an effective and compliant safety program. Read More »
OSHA is taking a harder look at workplace violence in long-term care facilities. These tips can help you prepare your staff and shore up your documentation procedures. Read More »
When it is time for the walk-around tour, take the compliance officer where he or she needs to go and nowhere else. You may be proud of your facility and want to show it off, but that doesn’t mean they will see it in the same light as you. Read More »
Don’t panic. Be polite and respectful; remember this is an official visit. And please, for your sake, remember the old adage: ”If they ask you the time, tell them the time; don’t tell them how to build a watch.” Read More »