Understanding Your Safety Responsibilities

What Are Employee Safety Responsibilities?

Your safety responsibilities are the actions you must take to protect yourself, your coworkers, and your patients from harm. These responsibilities are both legal requirements and ethical duties.

Legal Requirements:

• Follow all safety policies and procedures
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly
• Report safety hazards and incidents immediately
• Participate in safety training programs

Ethical Duties:

• Look out for your coworkers’ safety
• Speak up when you see unsafe conditions
• Take personal responsibility for safety practices
• Support a culture where everyone feels safe to report concerns

Key Safety Areas in Healthcare

1. Workplace Violence Prevention Healthcare workers face workplace violence at rates four times higher than other industries. Your responsibilities include:

• Being alert to warning signs of aggressive behavior
• Following de-escalation techniques
• Reporting all incidents, even verbal threats
• Supporting coworkers who experience violence

Real-world example: A nurse notices a visitor becoming agitated in the waiting room. Instead of ignoring it, she alerts security and follows the hospital’s violence prevention protocol. This quick action prevents a potential assault.

2. Infection Control You have a duty to prevent the spread of infections by:

• Following hand hygiene protocols
• Using PPE correctly for each patient interaction
• Properly disposing of contaminated materials
• Staying home when you’re sick
• Getting required vaccinations

Real-world example: During flu season, a CNA feels a bit under the weather but isn’t sure if she’s really sick. She calls her supervisor and stays home for the day. Later, she tests positive for flu and realizes she protected her vulnerable patients by not coming to work.

3. Physical Safety Healthcare involves many physical risks. You must:

• Use proper body mechanics when lifting patients
• Keep walkways clear of obstacles
• Report broken equipment immediately
• Follow lockout/tagout procedures for equipment maintenance
• Wear appropriate footwear to prevent slips and falls

Real-world example: A physical therapist notices a wheelchair with a loose wheel. Instead of using it “just this once,” she immediately tags it as broken and reports it to maintenance. This prevents a potential patient fall.

Your Rights as an Employee

Along with responsibilities, you have important rights:

• Right to a safe workplace free from recognized hazards
• Right to know about workplace dangers through training and information
• Right to refuse unsafe work if you believe it poses immediate danger
• Right to report safety concerns without fear of retaliation
• Right to participate in workplace safety activities