Culture of Safety

Responsibilities

STAFF
  • Work with your supervisor to maintain a safe work environment
  • Notify your supervisor whenever you have questions, concerns, or any discomfort related to your work environment
  • Use safe work practices
  • Take all required safety and ergonomics training
  • Immediately report a work-related injury
SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS
  • Create and maintain safe work environments for employees
  • Ensure employees complete required training modules relevant to their jobs
  • Implement recommended equipment and workstation adjustments as soon as possible to reduce injury risks
  • Create a department budget that includes employee work stations from the approved equipment list of the Ergonomics Department
  • Develop a department ergonomic plan that outlines authority for employee work environment changes and equipment purchases
  • Be a role model to motivate employees to work safely
  • Understand who and when to contact others for support
DIRECTORS
  • Engage managers in review of incidents and assist in formulating corrective actions
  • Regularly meet with managers to review the injury prevention program within the department
  • Lead by example to emphasize the importance of workplace safety
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
  • Be aware of the division's injury metrics and follow up any corrective actions with directors
  • Lead by example and ensure that safety is a priority

 

Unit-Based Safety Recommendations
SAFETY CHAMPIONS
 

Department Safety Champions (DSC) are appointed by the departments to facilitate the flow of safety information and programs from the Safety Office.  DSC serve everyone in the department regardless of tasks performed.  Every department at UCSF Health should have at least one DSC.  Large departments and those with multiple locations may need to have more to be effective.  

Support a culture of safety within UCSF Health.  Volunteer to be a safety champion for your unit.  As one, you will be trained to immediately address and correct minor safety issues, present safety messages to other staff during huddles and staff meetings, promote safety initiatives and disseminate safety materials to other employees in the department, take responsibility for identifying safety issues and reporting them through appropriate channels.

Contact the Safety Office ([email protected]) for assistance in designating a DSC.

SAFETY HUDDLES
 

Safety huddles help to create a culture of safety and provide an avenue for front-line staff to voice safety concerns and hazards.  It is important to include workplace harms and environmental hazards as part of the safety huddle.  Safety huddles can also be an excellent opportunity to highlight important safety procedures, reporting, or action plans for risk reductio​n

Safety huddle activities may include:

- Reviewing contents of Rainbow Chart
- Reviewing sharps handling and full bin procedures
- Reviewing emergency procedures or fire drill expectations
- Reviewing incident reporting expectations (timely reporting)
- Reviewing procedures for red tag, MCSS ticket, and IR for equipment failures
- Asking staff to focus on one hazard for the day (e.g., slip/fall risks, malfunctioning doors/equipment, etc.)

UNIT-BASED SAFETY COMMITTEE
 

A key component of a department's safety program is a unit-based Safety Commitee.  This is a problem-solving work group dedicated to address hazards and reduce risks of workplace-harm events.  Unit managers and/or supervisors must participate in these committees.
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