New OSHA Partnership Aims to Enhance Protections for Missouri Nursing Assistants — Occupational Health & Safety

New OSHA Partnership Aims to Enhance Protections for Missouri Nursing Assistants

The two-year agreement with the National Association of Health Care Assistants focuses on workplace training and education.

• By Robert Yaniz Jr.
• Dec 21, 2023

OSHA has joined forces with the National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA) for a new initiative to enhance protections for certified nursing assistants in the Missouri area.

Under a two-year agreement, OSHA’s Kansas City regional office and NAHCA will focus on providing training and education to certified nursing assistants and their employers. This initiative addresses critical areas such as mental health, suicide prevention and common industry hazards. These include such concerns as slips, trips, falls, ergonomic injuries, workplace violence and exposure to harmful biological and chemical substances.

“Certified nursing assistants provide care in most healthcare settings. Their care for nursing home residents unable to care for themselves and their contributions to keeping these residents safe and comfortable are invaluable,” OSHA Regional Administrator Billie Kizer in Kansas City said in a statement. “This alliance will help ensure that the people who dedicate themselves to caring for so many others in our communities are protected against the most prevalent industry hazards.”

This program intends to empower nursing assistants, regardless of their experience level, to actively participate in workplace safety and to educate workers and employers about their rights. They will be encouraged to report near-misses, unsafe conditions and behaviors to safety committees within their workplaces, including how to use the OSHA complaint process.

OSHA’s Alliance Program allows the agency to collaborate with organizations to educate workers on workplace safety initiatives, compliance resources, and their rights and responsibilities.