Ask Annie About the Importance of SAFETY Reporting!

Summary (Wellness/Workplace Safety Strategies)

Annie (a healthcare aid) emphasizes that workplace safety reporting is essential to prevent accidents and keep both workers and residents safe. She outlines four specific categories of issues that should always be reported.

Key wellness & productivity/safety strategies

• Prevent workplace accidents through transparency
  • You can’t fully prevent incidents if you don’t know about (or don’t report) what’s happening.

What to report (the “4 types”)

• Hazards

  • Anything that could be dangerous to health and safety (e.g., an extension cord across a busy walking area, or a resident suddenly acting differently in a negative way).

• Incidents (accidents)

  • Events where someone is harmed or affected (e.g., you trip and fall, or someone else is impacted due to an unreported hazard).

• Near misses

  • Situations where something dangerous happens but no one is hurt and no damage occurs (e.g., someone almost collides with you with a cart).

• Violence and harassment

  • Any unacceptable behavior—not permitted in the workplace—should be reported right away.

Practical self-care / action steps

• Learn the definitions

  • Familiarize yourself with what counts as:
    • a hazard
    • an incident
    • a near miss
    • violence and harassment

• Know the reporting process

  • Learn how to report each type of issue in your facility.

• Ask for follow-up

  • Check back to ensure reporting leads to positive change.

Supporting prevention knowledge

• Use Safety Data Sheets (SDS) as a trusted resource to build awareness about hazards and safer practices.

Presenters / Sources

• Annie (Presenter)