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This paper charts the journey from classroom-based training delivery to hybrid and virtual learning opportunities used to overcome the challenges imposed by public health restrictions introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The public health measures introduced in March 2020 had a significant effect on the ability of the Children First Information and Advice Service (CFIAS), in Tusla, Ireland’s Child and Family Agency, to deliver services. One of the key tools used by the CFIAS to support understanding of responsibilities, and best practice, in child safeguarding by professionals, and within organisations, has been the provision of direct training and information sessions. The introduction of public health restrictions necessitated a complete rethink by the CFIAS on how child safeguarding training and information are delivered. The paper presents an outline of the background and context of child safeguarding in Ireland, followed by a description of some of the challenges experienced by the CFIAS in response to the pandemic public health restrictions. It includes discussion on strategies and solutions considered to overcome these challenges. There is further discussion on the tools and methods eventually used, followed by a reflection on lessons learned by the CFIAS in areas including training delivery and methodology, eLearning, and information provision. The paper provides an analysis of limited qualitative and quantitative data, as well as a reflection on the lived experience of the CFIAS team members responding to the challenges posed during this time period, rather than a preplanned research study on pedagogical approaches in adult learning.

The connection between nursing injury rates and patient outcomes has not been totally grasped in the health care occupational health setting. This article concludes that nursing injury rates are linked to the nursing shortage and less nursing time at the bedside, both of which have been scientifically linked to negative patient outcomes. Because nurses' working conditions affect patients' outcomes, more funding and changes are needed to improve these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Washington State, health care workers have the highest rate of compensable back injuries. Washington Hospital Services, a self-insured workers' compensation program, implemented a zero lift program in 31 of its 38 hospitals. Zero lift was defined as replacing manual lifting, transferring, and re-positioning of patients with mechanical lifting or use of other patient assist devices. This program included two trusts, two pools of hospitals that self-insure workers' compensation. The pools are governed by elected boards of trustees from the pool memberships and regulated by the State Department of Labor and Industries. This pretest-posttest descriptive study compared patient-handling injury data prior to program implementation with those after program implementation. Patient-handling injury claims decreased by 43% in the participating hospitals from 2000 to 2004 (i.e., from 3.51 to 2.23). The time lost frequency rate decreased by 50% (i.e., from 1.91 to 1.03). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A newly organized employee safety program, with an 11-step design, has been introduced at Valley General Hospital in Monroe, Washington, with the intention of changing the 'culture of safety.' A 1-year report of the results indicates that the overall incidence of injury claims, lost-time injuries, and needlestick injuries were reduced after the program was implemented and timely reporting of claims within 24 hours was increased. The hypothesis, that by creating more visibility for the employee safety program a decrease in injury rates would occur, was confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2003-2004, the Asbestos Victims Association of Quebec undertook an exploratory sampling of the air and soil in the residential community of asbestos mining towns. In the 26 houses in the Thetford Mines area, 28 air samples were collected; one outdoor air sample was collected; 14 soil samples were taken; one dust sample was taken from a windowsill. The AHERA criterion was exceeded in 15 of the 28 air samples collected and the World Trade Center criterion was exceeded in five of 26 cases. The risk of developing asbestos-related cancer following such in-home exposures over 30 years is estimated at 1 in 10,000. Soil from the driveways or backyards of nine homes was covered with residue from a tailing pile. Of 14 samples, seven had chrysotile content in excess of 10%; in three, content exceeded 60%, and one reached 100%. Dust from the windowsill had a chrysotile content of 1.2 million structures of all lengths/sq cm. These results suggest a real public health threat in the Quebec mining areas.

There is an epidemic of health-care worker back injury in the State of Washington. Voluntary programs are not keeping pace with the increasing back injury rates to health-care workers. Adding all the health-care industry SIC codes, hospitals, nursing homes, home health and residential care puts health-care as the leading industry in the State of Washington for back injury. Licensed practical nurses, nurses aides, and registered nurses account for the majority of all claims in the health-care industry. Self-insured hospitals led the state for lost time compensable back injuries between 1993 and 2001, and combined Washington State Fund and self-insured health-care hospitals and nursing homes led all other industries for compensable soft-tissue disorders of the neck, back, and upper extremities. Legislation is needed to protect this group of workers in this type of industry. A bill will be re-introduced in the 2006 session that calls for hospitals to implement back injury prevention programs through either the Zero-Lift model, with nursing staff use of lift equipment, or the Lift-Team model, with a specially trained team using lift equipment, or a combination of the two, for all shifts. The State of Washington should provide funding, through savings created by back injury prevention programs, for small rural health-care institutions to assist them in compliance with the legislation.

Lifting is an art, not a random task. If risk is concentrated where it can be controlled, incident rates can be reduced dramatically. It is much easier to control the variables that lead to injury in a team of two lifting members than in a population of nurses. The lifting team study shows that a 95% reduction in lost time injuries can be obtained if a professional lifting team, rather than nurses, lift clients. Secondary benefits to the lifting team approach are: greater nursing morale, recruiting tasks become easier if nurses do not have to lift, and additional time for bedside nursing care.