The Impact of Government Health and Safety Initiatives on Healthcare and Ergonomics in the United States

The purpose of this paper is to examine a major cost associated with the healthcare industry: health and safety. The labor regulatory agency (OSHA) in the USA have recently targeted healthcare facilities with high fines for a... [ view full abstract ]

The purpose of this paper is to examine a major cost associated with the healthcare industry: health and safety. The labor regulatory agency (OSHA) in the USA have recently targeted healthcare facilities with high fines for a number of high-cost injury categories. The reasons for and implications of this enforcement policy are discussed, and a case study regarding ergonomic interventions in healthcare is presented to emphasize the importance of proactive risk reduction measures. Additional benefits of the intervention included increased productivity, throughput, and employee satisfaction.