Safety Management Systems (Case study: Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) for Hospitals)

ABSTRACT

A Safety Management System (SMS) is a systematic approach to managing safety, including the necessary organizational structures, accountabilities, policies, and procedures. Safety Management system is a comprehensive management system designed to manage safety elements in the workplace. It includes policy, objectives, plans, procedures, organization, responsibilities and other measures. The SMS is used in industries that manage significant safety risks, including aviation, petroleum, chemical, electricity generation, and others. Healthcare personnel is at increased risk for exposure to ATD pathogens and, when other controls have been considered and implemented as appropriate, may be required to use respiratory protection. In order for respirators to provide the effective protection, they must be properly selected, used, and maintained as part of a written program, which describes how employers will provide employees adequate medical evaluations, training, and fit testing. The program must be evaluated regularly through observation and obtaining input from all respirator users and persons involved in implementing the program. Public health guidance and regulations must be regularly reviewed for changes and utilized to identify tasks and pathogens requiring the use of respiratory protection.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Chapter 1 ……………………………………………………………………………………........1

1.1  Safety Management Systems …………………………………………………………………1

1.2  Problem Statement  …………………………………………………………………………...3

1.3  Aims and Objectives ………………………………………………………………………….4

1.4  Significance of study ………………………………………………………………………….4

1.5  Definition of terms ……………………………………………………………………………4

Chapter 2 ………………………………………………………………………………………….6

2.1 Literature review ……………………………………………………………………………...6

2.2 Overview: How does a Safety and health management system work? ………………………7

2.3 Why implement a safety and health management system? …………………………………..8

2.4 What are the benefits? ………………………………………………………………………...9

2.5 Six core elements of Safety management systems ………………………………………….10

2.6 Hazards associated with hospitals …………………………………………………………...20

Chapter 3 ………………………………………………………………………………………...25

3.1 Respiratory Protection Program ……………………………………………………………..25

3.2 Why hospitals need a respiratory protection program ………………………………………25

3.2.1 Respiratory hazards in the healthcare setting ……………………………………...25

3.3 Types of respiratory protection ……………………………………………………………...27

3.3.1 Air-purifying respirators …………………………………………………………..28

3.3.2 Air-supplying respirators ………………………………………………………….29

Chapter 4 ………………………………………………………………………………………...30

4.1 Developing a Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) ……………………………………….30

4.1.1 Assigning responsibilities …………………………………………………………30

4.1.2 Performing a hazard evaluation …………………………………………………...30

4.1.3 Storage, maintenance, repair & disposal …………………………………………..32

4.1.4 Fit test ……………………………………………………………………………..34

4.1.5 Training ……………………………………………………………………………35

4.1.6 Record Keeping …………………………………………………………………...36

4.1.7 Program evaluation ………………………………………………………………..37

Chapter 5 ………………………………………………………………………………………...39

5.1 Recommendation ……………………………………………………………………39

5.2 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………..39

References ……………………………………………………………………………………….40

Appendix A ……………………………………………………………………………………...41