World Patient Safety Day, 17 September 2020 Charter – Health Worker Safety: A Priority for Patient Safety

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  World Health Organization
• Description:
  This Charter is presented by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the occasion of World Patient Safety Day, 17 September 2020, which is dedicated to the theme "Health worker safety: a priority for patient safety". WHO Member States and all relevant stakeholders are invited to support and endorse this Charter by signing up to it. I. Health worker safety: now more than ever: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, by its Article 23, affirms that the right to work includes "just and favourable conditions of work" as a fundamental human right. Many important subsequent international conventions, resolutions and instruments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals, have called upon governments and other stakeholders to provide safe, secure and supportive working environments for all workers. Given that, globally, women make up approximately 70% of the health workforce, promoting health worker safety directly supports in eliminating discriminatory work practices and the empowerment of women. The health, safety and well-being of health workers is a legal and moral responsibility of governments and a prerequisite for an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health emergencies, and for the provision of essential health services. Human capital cannot be replenished in the same way as medicines, equipment and other supplies, it is paramount that we nurture and safeguard them. World Health Assembly resolution WHA72.6, on global action on patient safety, recognizes the importance of "education, training and continuous professional development to build and maintain a competent, compassionate and committed health care workforce operating within a supportive environment to make health care safe". It also urges Member States to build appropriate working environments that optimize the delivery of safe health services and promote a safety culture. Violence against health workers, burnout, and musculoskeletal disorders are all widespread occupational health problems in strained health care facilities, many of which also face acute shortages of competent health workers. Health worker absenteeism and attrition, resulting in suboptimal care outcomes, are aggravated by poor physical and mental health of health workers. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and sometimes exacerbated underlying challenges facing the health workforce, the safety of health care and the overall health system. Preserving the physical and mental health of health workers is essential to ensure the delivery of safe care and avoid patient safety incidents. Physically and psychologically sound health workers are less prone to make errors, contributing to safer care. The safety of health workers therefore directly impacts the safety of patients. II. Call for urgent and sustainable action globally: Recognizing health worker safety as a priority for patient safety, WHO Member States and all relevant stakeholders are urged to take urgent and sustainable action through the following key measures, as relevant and applicable to context and responsibilities. 1. Establish synergies between health worker safety and patient safety policies and strategies. 2. Develop and implement national programmes for occupational health and safety of health workers. 3. Protect health workers from violence in the workplace. 4. Improve mental health and psychological well-being of health workers. 5. Protect health workers from physical and biological hazards. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Communicable Diseases Health Personnel Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Public Health Safety Violence Workplace
• Keywords:
  Coronavirus COVID-19 Health Care Personnel Health Care Workers Health Protection Mental Health Occupational Health Patient Handling Psychological Factors Public Health Safety Culture Work Environment Workplace Violence

  More +
• ISBN:
  9789240011595
• Publisher:
  World Health Organization
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Guidance
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20061892
• Citation:
  Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2020 Sep; :1-6
• Contact Point Address:
  World Health Organization (WHO) Headquarters, Avenue Appia 20 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20170901
• Source Full Name:
  World Patient Safety Day, 17 September 2020 Charter - health worker safety: a priority for patient safety
• End Date:
  20200831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:882092e1b3c99b67862548dacdac051cc283ba59b89a6ff3241450ab743c636eb91c1109654f71537ee8a0d44194306aa2817356d95721ec6ec88dce36712eae
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/225240/cdc_225240_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 216.44 KB ]