Extreme winter forecasts can be met with fear or confidence. Being prepared for extreme cold along with snow and ice is a major concern for the safety of both patients and staff. Worried about the cost? Tell your leadership being prepared may pay for itself in the long run.
Best estimates from The Joint Commission (TJC) suggest that 90-100 surgical fires occur annually in the United States, creating safety hazards for patients, surgical teams, and the operating room (OR) environment. TJC recently issued Sentinel Event Alert #68, “Updated surgical fire prevention...
The whole purpose of the building tour is to determine if your facility is in compliance with the Life Safety Code® (LSC). The surveyor will most likely start at the top of your building inspecting mechanical rooms and the roof.
Safety problems identified within the physical environment account for 60%–70% of deficiencies scored by The Joint Commission (TJC) during surveys, according to TJC statistics. However, in the first six months of this year, almost 90% of those Environment of Care (EC) and Life Safety (LS)...
If you’ve asked for a time-limited waiver to address a Life Safety Code (LSC) deficiency, be aware that CMS is unlikely to approve extensions, warned Herman McKenzie, MBA, CHS, director of The Joint Commission (TJC) Standards Interpretation Group’s Physical...
Sometimes disasters mean being on the go while evacuating the hospital. Sometimes staff and patients have to shelter in place. That is why it is important to create easy to store and quick to move disaster kits to provide staff items they may need in an emergency. In the wake of a tornado in May...
OSHA addresses fire safety under the General Industry Standards (29CFR1910). Facilities under construction should consult the edition of the of the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) Life Safety Code adopted by your regulating agency for more detailed information.
As cases of COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) continue to persist and influenza season picks up, the CDC is urging hospitals to check the efficiency of their heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Finding extra storage space in a hospital is always a challenge. But staff should be reminded that using stairwells, the ends of corridors, unused patient rooms or bathrooms, and empty offices for storage is not the answer.
Halloween is almost upon us, followed by a two-month holiday season starting with Thanksgiving and going through New Year’s. That means it’s time to review your holiday decorating policy, update it as needed, and educate new staff and veterans on what they can and cannot do.
