Injury Prevention Specialist

The primary responsibility of the Injury Prevention Specialist is multi-faceted and includes the provision of job conditioning through stretching, exercise, and job coaching (both individualized and as a unit/group) in order to demonstrate and change behaviors toward using proper body mechanics in the healthcare setting. The broad scope of this role also includes responsibilities and oversight for development and implementation of quality improvement and team member safety initiatives, relying on the review and aggregation of team member occupational injury data to drive those initiatives. The Injury Prevention Specialist collaborates with stakeholders and subject matter experts to identify risk mitigation strategies and prevention tactics to facilitate a safer work environment, both for team members on assigned units, as well as those across the organization.

Essential Job functions:

The IPS is responsible for assisting staff with environmental changes to enhance safety features, including but not limited to the utilization of proper body mechanics and also the integration of proper workstation ergonomics.

Workplace Injury Assessment & Prevention, to include:

• The performance of functional task analyses, anthropometric analysis, and/or the usage of tools such as checklists, surveys, videotaping, or force measurement to optimize safety
• Worksite inspections to identify physical hazards and subsequent recommendations to improve health and safety, using knowledge of potentially harmful factors, such as heavy loads or repetitive motions.
• Trains employees in task techniques or ergonomic principles.
• Provides technical support to employees through activities such as rearranging workplace fixtures to reduce physical hazards or discomfort and/or modifying task sequences to reduce cycle time and repetitive strain.

Collects data through direct observation of work activities and/or reviews health, safety, accident, or worker compensation records – this is done to evaluate overall injury prevention program effectiveness or to identify jobs with high incidence of injury.

In collaboration with the Department of Insurance Services, and under the oversight of the Occ. Injury Prevention & Safety Manager, acts as an investigative arm for Workers’ Compensation claims and concerns, by assisting with evidence procurement and acquisition as it relates to occupational injury incidents and/or general liability claims (i.e. in the form of photos, scene assessment, etc.)

When relevant, the IPS supports, coordinates, and sometimes takes the lead on quality improvement projects and initiatives that integrate workplace injury tracking and prevention with clinical treatment practices and outcomes. This can include topics such as Blood & Body Fluid Exposure prevention initiatives, the enhancement of Safe Patient Handling practices, etc., and may also require taking leadership/chair-type roles on various committees and task forces.

Collaborates with senior/executive leaders, department managers, and front line clinical staff, as well as subject matter experts, to gain a better understanding of workflows, gather potential ideas for intervention, and identify goals for risk mitigation and injury prevention.

Maintains an in-depth understanding of team member injury event reporting, external agency reporting, and benchmarking, and makes recommendations for improvement changes to ensure best practices as it relates to occupational injury reporting.

OSHA First Aid (if applicable) **Must be certified as an Athletic Trainer to perform these duties**:

Under the direction of a Physician, provide OSHA first aid treatment to employees who have been referred to the athletic trainer by a physician, Worker’s Compensation, or self-referred on site from an assigned IPP unit. May use physical modalities such as heat, cold, sound electricity, or mechanical devices related to rehabilitation or treatments as needed. The employment of rehabilitative techniques including, but not limited to joint mobilization, massage, rehabilitative exercise, and physical rehabilitation. Practice prevention of, evaluation of, emergency care for, physical reconditioning and/or rehabilitative of injuries/illness. Each encounter must be documented in the individual’s file, in Employee Health Services to include reason for encounter and treatment provided.

Patient Population: N/A

Employment Qualifications:

Required Education:
Bachelor’s Degree in health-related field from an accredited program. Relevant experience in lieu of Bachelor's degree may be accepted.

Preferred Education:
Master’s Degree in health-related field

Licensure/Certification Required:

Current related certification, or ability to obtain a certification within 1 year in a health-related field. (i.e. ATC, ACSM-EP, ASEP, CSCS (NSCA))

Current CPR and AED certification

Certified in First Aid

Licensure/Certification Preferred: N/A

Minimum Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:
Minimum of two (2) years of experience in an industrial or occupational health injury prevention field

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

Knowledge/experience in local occupational healthcare and or the industrial environment.

Knowledge of normal anatomical structure and functions.

Knowledge of musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and psychological demands placed on the injured employee.

Cultural Responsiveness:
Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred: N/A

Working Conditions:

May be exposed to limited hazardous substances or body fluids.*

May be exposed to human blood and other potentially infectious materials.*

• Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.

Physical Requirements:

Physical Demands: Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs), Push/Pull (0-100 lbs.), Stoop, Kneel, Squat, Balance, Bend

Work Position: Sitting, Walking, Standing

Additional Physical Requirements/ Hazards:

Physical Requirements:

Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination); Maneuver weight; Reach above shoulder; Repetitive arm/hand movements

Mental/Sensory - Emotional:

Mental/Sensory: Reasoning, Problem solving, Speak clearly, Write legibly, Reading, Logical Thinking

Emotional: Steady pace, Able to handle multiple priorities, Able to adapt to frequent change

Workday Day (United States of America)

EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran/41 CFR 60-1.4.