Another Way Of Looking At The Obesity Problem

One well-known trend in American demographics may be responsible for the emergence of a new concern in the healthcare employment setting – a trend that is spurring the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to action.

It's well known that the obesity rate in America has risen dramatically over the last several decades. Currently, approximately 34% of adult Americans are considered obese, which is more than double the percentage of adult Americans who were considered obese in 1980. Obesity, of course, is linked to numerous other health problems, which, unsurprisingly, often results in such individuals seeking treatment in healthcare facilities. As an increasing number of overweight Americans enter healthcare and long-term care facilities, employers need to address the growing number of workplace injuries related to the care of such patients.

Increased Injury Rate to Healthcare Workers

Data recently released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed an increase in injuries to workers in healthcare facilities. According to the data, the number of injuries increased 6% last year for healthcare support workers in general, a rate that is nearly 2.5 times the rate for all private and public workers. The injury rate for nursing aides, orderlies and attendants rose 7%. Perhaps most notably, the rate of musculoskeletal type injuries increased 10% for nursing aides, orderlies and attendants.

In response to this trend, Assistant Labor Secretary David Michaels announced last November that OSHA intended to develop a national emphasis program (NEP) that will focus on worker safety at nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. OSHA has not released a start date yet, but the proposed NEP would have an initial term of up to three years and would involve increased inspections of healthcare facilities and nursing homes. While OSHA did not specifically link obesity to the increased rate of worker injuries in its announcement, it seems likely that the risk posed by overweight patients was at least one motivating factor. As Assistant Labor Secretary Michaels noted in the announcement, one area of focus will be on "back injuries from resident handling or lifting patients."

It's possible that Assistant Labor Secretary Michaels' announcement may foreshadow another OSHA announcement in the coming year. In January 2010, OSHA proposed a rule that that would have required employers to check a box in a separate column on the OSHA Injury and Illness (Form 300) Log for work-related musculoskeletal injuries to employees. In the face of criticism from the business community, OSHA temporarily withdrew its proposal in January 2011. But in light of the 10% increase in musculoskeletal injuries to healthcare workers and OSHA's recent announcement that it intends to focus on back injuries to workers in the industry, employers should prepare for the possibility that OSHA will revisit this proposed rule.

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