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MUSC honored with award-winning program For the seventh year in a row MUSC was selected as an award-winning safety program. The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce has presented MUSC with their Commendation of Excellence Award for the seventh year in a row for having a loss day injury and illness rate below 1.    Hospitals and universities do not traditionally win this award due to the inherent hazards associated with bloodborne pathogens, hazardous chemicals and musculoskeletal disorders. The top three injury and illness categories at MUSC are bloodborne pathogen exposure, musculoskeletal injuries and slips, trips and falls.   MUSC has an Occupational Safety and Health Program and committees such as the Environment of Care Committee, Injuries Committee, Bloodborne Pathogens Committee and University Safety Committee that study MUSC’s injuries and associated root cause.    The following are a few initiatives that have been implemented to address the current injury categories: Bloodborne pathogen exposures New employee and annual training. Performance improvement projects to address non-compliance with safety devices. Post exposure audits and associated recommendations to prevent future exposures Musculoskeletal injuries New employee training and annual updates. Ergonomic evaluations and associated recommendations. Lift team to assist clinical staff with moving patients. Patient lift and transfer devices. Work station re-design. Stand and stretch program. Slips, trips and falls PAMIC Committee investigates slips, trips and falls and makes recommendations to correct fall hazards. Umbrella bags at building entrances to prevent wet floors on rainy days. Clear demarcation and separation of wet floors. Project to level Horseshoe brick walkway.   For questions or concerns regarding health and safety issues in your work area, contact Joseph Avant, manager of Occupational Safety and Health at 792-3604 or come to Wellness Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 3 in the Children’s Hospital lobby. Editor's note: The preceding column was brought to you on behalf of the Employee Wellness Program. Striving to bring various topics and representing numerous employee wellness organizations and committees on campus, this weekly column seeks to provide MUSC, MUHA, and UMA employees with current and helpful information concerning all aspects of health.     Friday, April 28, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island papers at 849-1778, ext. 201.