Worker safety training in public hospitals in Costa Rica.
To develop a worker safety training program for its public hospital system, the Costa Rican Social Security System entered into a collaborative agreement with the University of Texas School of Public Health. A national survey to assess safety in the public hospitals revealed high rates of injury and under-reporting of injuries, as well a lack of worker safety training. A program developed based on the results of the survey was implemented using a training-of-trainers model. The program created opportunities for human resource development in occupational health in the hospital system, allowed for the sustainability of the training effort, and reduced dependency on external funding. Over 3700 workers were trained in its first three years, and 57 trainers were established in local hospitals and clinics.
Felknor
Sarah A
SA
Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Houston, Texas 77225-0186, USA. Sarah.A.Felknor@uth.tmc.edu
Sequeira
Luis Fernando
LF
Weinger
Merri
M
Burau
Keith D
KD
De Mezerville
Leon
L
Delclos
George
G
D019567:Back Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D003364:Costa Rica; D004493:Education; D006306:Health Surveys; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D016730:Program Development; D012449:Safety