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Online Exclusive: Sample Healthcare Worker Injury Prevention Policy
COCA Online Exclusive February 2012
California has adopted the Hospital Patient and Health Care Worker Injury Protection Act in Section 6403.5 of the Labor Code. The act covers the lifting, repositioning, and transfer of patients by healthcare workers in acute care hospitals. . . . more »

Featured Resource: February Is American Heart Month; Is Your Workplace Heart Healthy?
February 2012
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. While employers have no control over many factors affecting heart health--including workers' weight and overall health status, genetic heritage, and health behaviors like diet, exercise, and smoking--some conditions in your workplace may play a role. . . . more »

Legislation: Governor Signs Occupational Safety-Related Laws; New Requirements For Safe Patient Handling, Body Artists, and Pipelines
December 2011
The Legislature had a busy session in 2011, and Gov. Jerry Brown signed a flurry of bills into law this fall--including three that will affect occupational safety and health in California. We'll provide an overview of those laws. . . . more »

Infection Control Checklist
Updated November 2010
Antibiotic-resistant microorganisms are becoming increasingly common. In part, this is due to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, which tends to breed resistant strains. Another factor is the spread of these organisms from the immunocompromised populations where they first . . . more »

Emerging Hazards: Mercy, Mercy, MRSA; Keep Workers Safe from This Drug-Resistant Microbe
August 2008
Alma Zavala worked for 12 years as a guard at Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County before she became a dorm officer there in March 2008 at a level I minimum security dorm. Within about two weeks, the 45-yearold Zavala was admitted to a hospital and diagnosed with pneumonia; shortly . . . more »

News Note: Asthma Admissions Soaring
August 2008
Hospitals are finding that increasing numbers of adults admitted to the hospital for other conditions also have asthma, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Causes of the disease, which include occupational . . . more »

Workplace Violence: 'Bully for You'? How Bullies Affect Your Workforce
July 2008
What if there was a form of violence affecting your workplace that was four times more common than sexual harassment? What if you and other American employers were losing 28 million employees each year . . . more »

Shift Work: Special Illness and Injury Concerns for Workers with Nonstandard Shifts
June 2008
We all know that we no longer live in a 9-to-5 society. These days, it's 24/7, leading at least one restaurant chain to coin a new word to describe the meal you eat when you're up past midnight--Taco Bell's "Fourthmeal"--and parents to learn the location of the nearest all-night . . . more »

News Note: Formaldehyde Exposure May Be Tied to Lou Gehrig's Disease
June 2008
Exposure to formaldehyde may increase an individual's risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, according to a researcher with Harvard's School of Public Health who recently presented the findings at an American Academy of Neurology . . . more »

News Note: Employee Interest in Wellness Wanes Over Time
June 2008
Nearly half of employees who participated in wellness programs in the past three years admitted that their commitment trails off after just a few years, according to a Guardian Life Insurance Company survey. How to keep those workers interested in wellness? Sixty-eight percent of . . . more »

News Note: Female Veterinarians Face Higher Miscarriage Risk
June 2008
Chemical and radiological exposures that are heavily regulated in the human healthcare industry are not as well regulated in the animal healthcare industry, and they're harming female veterinarians, say researchers from the Imperial College of London. Failure to use widely . . . more »

News Notes: New Public Health Notice Addresses Hazards Associated With Cleaning and Disinfecting Medical Equipment
January 2008
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, federal OSHA, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have published a public health notification on the hazards of using excess cleaning . . . more »

State Legislation Update: Diacetyl, Indoor Heat Illness, and Lift Teams Under Consideration
October 2007
As the current legislative session draws to a close, several bills that could affect occupational safety and health in California are being considered. Here's a look at some of them. We've included the latest information on their status . . . more »

News Notes: Federal OSHA Offers New Health Care Compliance Assistance Program
October 2007
Federal OSHA has added a health care program to its free compliance assistance resources. The materials are designed to help employers understand OSHA regulations applicable to the health care industry, including . . . more »

Bulletin: New guide released on the safe lifting and movement of nursing home residents
June 2006
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has issued a new guide, "Safe Lifting and Movement of Nursing Home Residents." The guide highlights the benefits of a safe resident li . . . more »

Health Care Workers: Strategies to Help Protect Those on the Front Lines
August 2004
Health care workers face numerous and sobering risks. Among them are bloodborne pathogens and biological hazards; ergonomic injuries from lifting and repetitive tasks; chemical, drug, and laser exposu . . . more »

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