Homecare Worker Health and Safety
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Homecare Worker Health and Safety Laura Stock, MPH Labor Occupational Health Program UC Berkeley May 2, 2011
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Homecare Worker Health and Safety. Laura Stock, MPH Labor Occupational Health Program UC Berkeley May 2, 2011. Pop Quiz. Homecare workers have ___higher injury rate than workers in the general workforce. 20% 30% 50% 70%. NIOSH Homecare Worker Study: 2001 - 2004. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Homecare Worker Health and Safety
Homecare Worker Health and Safety
Laura Stock, MPHLabor Occupational Health
ProgramUC BerkeleyMay 2, 2011
Pop Quiz
Homecare workers have ___higher injury rate than workers in the general workforce.
20% 30% 50% 70%
NIOSH Homecare Worker Study: 2001 - 2004
Workers’ Safety and HealthConsumer’s Safety and Health
Homecare Worker and Consumer Safety and Health
Safe Home Safe Workplace
Study Methods
Interviews (workers, unions, agencies, advocacy groups, consumers)
Focus groups (English, Spahish, Cantonese)
Data analysis
Study Results:
Stressful tasks associated with personal care Unassisted consumer lifting and
transferring Bathing Dressing (especially putting on shoes and
lifting legs) Pushing/pulling/lifting wheelchair Supporting consumer while walking or
catching them while falling Using needles or sharps/wound care
Results:
Stressful tasks associated with housekeeping chores
Cleaning kitchen/bathroom/floors Carrying groceries Moving boxes and furniture Prolonged standing
Conclusions Most workers have no training but want it Workers unaware of simple assist devices –
gait belts, shower chairs, transfer boards Workers have limited health information
Workers comp, blood-borne pathogens, job-related stress, etc.
Conflicts between consumers and workers may pose health risks to workers
Most consumers’ homes are not well-equipped for the services they need
Challenges in Addressing Health and Safety
Workers are employed in many locations
Each workplace is unique Population is very diverse (multiple
languages) Consumers are often low income
with little access to resources
NIOSH Intervention Study
Goal: Develop interventions to improve the safety and health of homecare workers
Approach: Community-based participatory research methods
Specific Aims
Stage 1: Research and develop intervention materials (handbook and training program)
Stage 2: Field test using peer mentors
Stage 3: Evaluate effectiveness Stage 4: Disseminate materials
(social marketing)
Challenges of Developing Effective Interventions Homecare workers don’t always identify
as workers with the right to a safe workplace
Consumers don’t always identify as employers and may lack resources/ability to take on that role
Workers may not believe they can make changes
Health and safety is not seen as important by many workers and consumers
Intervention Challenges cont. Hard to balance need to cover lots of
information and the need for simplicity Hard to meet the needs of such a
diverse group of workers and consumers
Lack of organizational resources (no training, no time to address safety)
Lack of easily accessible referral services
Intervention Materials: The Homecare Workers’ Handbook
Safety Tip Example
Taking Action
Health and Safety Workshop
Designed to: Increase understanding/awareness of
homecare worker health and safety Prepare workers to use the materials
to identify and address hazards Promote effective communication
between homecare worker and consumer
Where Does it Hurt?
Identifying Hazards
Hazard Stickers:
Taking Action
Social Marketing Campaign
Identifying key messages that will resonate and promote worker health and safety
Determining effective dissemination strategies
Creating posters/giveaways that can promote materials and messages
Lessons Learned Homecare workers want and value
opportunities to share experiences with other workers
The relationship between workers and consumers must be respected
Involving workers and consumers is essential to creating relevant, useful and practical materials
Lessons, cont.
There is a need for easily accessed, local resources – people need to know ‘who to call’
Communication and negotiation skills are critical to addressing hazards –people need help in advocating for their needs
Next Steps Conduct formal evaluation Work with partners and
worker/consumer leaders to promote use of materials and the recognition of importance of homecare worker health and safety
Work with stakeholders to address institutional barriers
Share materials and lessons learned with others across state and nation
Other Resources on Homecare Health and Safety
www.uic.edu/sph/homecarehealthandsafety/index
Discussion Questions:
How are you planning to address this issue in your curricula?
Where can worker health and safety information be most easily inserted?
What further resources/assistance do you need regarding homecare worker health and safety issues?
