Staying Safe at Work
Staying Safe at Work
Your Safety Matters focuses on new and updated resources to support management and reporting.
UK HealthCare is committed to safety and well-being of patients, visitors, and staff in our enterprise. We take all forms of aggression, violence, and threats seriously. Sometimes frontline staff don't report these incidents, because they feel disruptive behavior is "part of the job." There is uncertainty about how and where to report.
We know that workplace violence in health is growing and we are taking steps to ensure workplace safety at UK HealthCare. We want to ensure we have a healthy work and healing environment that is free from inappropriate, disruptive behavior that could hinder delivery of safety, quality patient care. This approach applies to patients, visitors and staff.
Examples of aggressive behaviors include but are not limited to:
- Threats of any kind against the welfare of another person
- Physical aggression, including assault
- Verbal harassment, including abusive language, cursing, or sexual language
- Behavior that puts oneself or others in harm’s way
More Safety Resources
LiveSafe Campus Security App
LiveSafe is a personal safety mobile app that University of Kentucky is providing to all students, faculty, and staff to download for free. The app provides a quick, convenient, and discreet way to communicate directly with University of Kentucky Police Department about potential risks and threats before they escalate, thereby enhancing your overall safety.
To download the app, click here.
Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure and Prevention
Though infection from such exposure is extremely rare, it is important to follow OSHA’s directive to evaluate each case for the need for preventive intervention and follow-up assessment.
Online reporting will be accessed via myUK. You can access a step by step guide for reporting here: How Do I Report an Occupational Exposure - Tip Sheet - Oct 2024.pdf
Healthcare workers are at risk for exposure to bloodborne pathogens when incidents such as a splash with potentially hazardous body fluid contacts the inside of the eye, nose, or mouth, or when a sharp object that had pierced through the skin of a patient subsequently pierces through the skin of the health care worker.
The process for post-exposure evaluation has been updated to ensure a rapid response to the incident with appropriate next steps that optimize the worker’s privacy and autonomy. Our goal is to make UK HealthCare’s work environment as safe as possible.
A full-time Occupational Medicine specialist physician oversees the program, and this step is part of University Health Service's efforts to make the program more efficient for employees to use. They welcome your feedback and suggestions for improvement.
Rotations at Non-UK Locations
Regardless of injury location, you are an employee of UK
- Step 1: First Aid
- Step 2: Workers’ Care: 800-440-6285
Please note that failure to report injuries through UK Worker’s Care could impact your future eligibility for worker’s compensation coverage. Further details about this resource are available at: here.
Battery Jump-Start Services
Transportation Services offers free on-campus battery jump-start service. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week anywhere on campus for all valid UK parking permit holders and campus patients and visitors.
If your car battery dies on campus and you need a jump-start, use the following contact information: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., call Transportation Services at 859-257-5757.
After-hours and weekends, call UK Towing Contractor at 859-231-0197.