Incident reporting leads to better workplace safety culture

November 2nd, 2012 by Dakota Software Staff Industry News

A company that institutes a workplace health and safety program to encourage continuous incident reporting will see an improved culture of safety at its worksites, a new study said.

Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania discovered the correlation when they implemented a Conditions Reporting System in a facility's radiation oncology department. As part of a year-long study, they saw an enhanced connection between the introduction of an incident reporting protocol and the increasingly positive views of their workplace safety culture.

"The workflow process is a key factor to determining safety and quality," said study author Dr. Amit Maity, as quoted by EHSToday

During the study, all staff in the department participated in an incident reporting program throughout the entire workplace. Maity and his fellow researchers then measured progress by using a patient safety culture survey. After comparing the survey results of the study near conclusion to those gathered at the beginning, researchers found improvements in 11 of 13 categories that indicate a safe and open workplace.

"By providing a conditions reporting program and encouraging our entire staff to be part of the process of improving patient safety, we're reinforcing that safety is a top priority," said Dr. Stephen Hahn, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine. "What we've learned from reporting events has already led to a number of changes to departmental policies, procedures and workflow. Ultimately, by reporting and investigating incidents, our faculty and staff are more confident in the care they provide and we're better able to identify any holes in our processes."

The researchers, impressed by the study results, said they plan to continue safety reporting practices after the end of the study, the results of which will be presented at a national oncology conference.

The study further underscores the benefits a business can enjoy from instituting a simple incident reporting program, namely both improved perception and actual safety performance within the workplace. Companies can start by using dashboard metrics to aid in collecting key health and safety performance indicators.