Summary: Fall River Health Services (FRHS) is a comprehensive healthcare system, which services Fall River County and the surrounding areas in the beautiful Southern Black Hills of South Dakota . We are comprised of a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital, 24-hour Emergency Department, Seven Sisters Living Center (LTC), in-house Rural Health Clinic plus ancillary services. We provide for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the individual, family, and significant others. We are committed to our patients, residents, employees and our community. We offer a comprehensive benefits package to all full time employees. Compensation is based upon your experience and qualifications. Full time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefit package including medical ( $90/month premium for single person and $500 annual deductible ), vision, dental and much more!

Description: The Occupational Health and Safety Nurse develops, implements and manages a comprehensive employee health and safety management program, including emergency preparedness, to safeguard the health and wellbeing of employees by coordinating with organizational workgroups to foster compliance with Fall River Health Services (FRHS), the State of South Dakota and federal governing agencies. This position carries out specific projects as designated by Executive Leadership or related committees as requested.

• Manage the development, implementation and evaluation of the organization’s employee health and safety management program, including emergency preparedness, designed to provide a safe working environment consistent with the regulations and standards governing health and safety determined by FRHS, the State of South Dakota, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) and other sanctioned agencies.
• Review and apply pertinent information from current scientific literature and publications.
• Recommend new or revised practices or procedures based on currently accepted, evidence-based strategies.
• Responsible for planning, analyzing, and implementing disaster emergency plans and policies governing the in compliance with regulation standards .
• Plan and coordinate a systematic organization wide approach to improving employee safety.
• Organize and facilitate the Disaster Subcommittee and its meetings by guiding discussion around emergency preparedness measures and developing training, education and policy for disaster management.
• Prepare the annual Disaster Plan and schedule for review, revision and approval annually.
• Prepare reports and actions plans as requested, including the annual Disaster Report.

Occupational Health

• Maintain employee health records.
• Conduct general orientation education on Occupational Health for all new employees, as applicable.
• Assist in the pre-placement health assessment program and orientation of all new staff to FRHS including TB skin testing and respirator fit test if necessary.
• Review new employee's completed health assessment forms for potential problems.
• Coordinate the administration of annual health screening, immunization and surveillance programs for FRHS employees and contractors (i.e. TB skin testing, influenza, hepatitis B, MMR, varicella, COVID, and other appropriate immunizations) and ensures timely and accurately documentation in employee health record.
• Administer periodic evaluations to determine an employee’s fitness for duty
• Coordinate surveillance programs for occupations at increased risk for exposure. Ensure employee is screened for communicable diseases; evaluated and treated when exposed to communicable diseases and offered options for protection against blood borne pathogens.
• Maintain current knowledge of evolving OSHA regulations and update organizational policies and track required data as appropriate.
• Oversee FRHS Drug Screen Program in coordination with Laboratory and document appropriately.
• Provide initial assessment of occupational injuries, illnesses and exposures. May refer for further evaluation as necessary in accordance with clinical guidelines and protocols.
• Determine whether an injury or illness meets the recordkeeping requirements issued by OSHA.
• Review ‘Employee First Report of Injury’ incident reports for employee related accidents and maintains logs/reports. Direct said reports to involved department managers to investigate root cause analysis and make recommendations for prevention of further occurrences.
• Assist in the investigation of worker's compensation claims and make recommendations as appropriate.
• Provide counseling, follow-up, work restrictions and recommendations related to communicable diseases or following exposures or workplace injuries.
• Collaborate with treatment, rehabilitation providers, third party representatives to coordinate/provide for the appropriate care, treatment and follow-up of work related health events based on knowledge of the specific work environment for optimal outcomes.
• Assist with analysis of occupational exposure incidents to identify trends.
• Organize and support work safety initiatives and ergonomic safety innovations.
• Review, revise and communicate Occupational Health policies annually.
• Participate in regulatory reviews such as State, CMS and OSHA visits and prepare reports or action plans as necessary.
• Assume responsibility for professional development and continuing education to ensure competency and performance consistent with professional Occupational Health Nursing standards

Safety

• Serve on the Safety Committee and report as appropriate from the Disaster Subcommittee.
• Regularly report activities to the Quality Assurance Committee.
• Support the function of the Safety Committee by collecting, reviewing, interpreting and disseminating information in such a way as to facilitate decision-making and effective risk management
• Review data reports on employee incidents and other safety occurrences to identify patterns, trends, problems and opportunities to improve employee safety.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the company’s internal control framework in addressing risks and accomplishing the company’s goals and objectives.
• Monitor the work environment and data to assure the safety of workers.
• Conduct workplace walkthroughs/assessments and exposure follow-up.
• Plan, facilitate and coordinate activities aimed at improving staff safety in relation to patient/resident care for effective risk management.
• Participate in emergency and disaster preparation including event coordination with area emergency preparedness organizations at the city, county and state level.
• Ensure mandatory training, code drills and competencies are accomplished and documented.
• Maintain incident management reports of significant safety and risk events.
• Respond to staff, patient/resident complaints regarding safety as requested.
• Reports safety hazards as appropriate.
• Coordinate facility wide risk management activities. Identify, investigate, report, analyze and evaluate risks within the facility. Make recommendations to reduce, prevent or eliminate risks identified.
• Establish and monitor key safety and risk indicators, as well as implement corrective action plans to mitigate risks.
• Implement preventive control measures to reduce risk facility wide.
• Assist in the development of performance improvement (PI) projects regarding safety to address identified opportunities for improvement to patient/resident and employee safety and monitor implementation of those plans.
• Review, revise and communicate policies and procedures for patient/resident/staff safety and risk/incident management and disaster preparedness.
• Develop and deliver safety and emergency preparedness education, in-service programs and competencies and maintain records of such including employee participation.
• Enhance professional growth and development through participation in Safety and Emergency Preparedness continuing education programs, trainings, research, in-service meetings and workshops; stay current on standards of practice; show responsibility for own professional practice and ongoing education and learning.
• Report identified opportunities for improvement that could impact worker health and safety to Safety Committee. Initiate performance improvement (PI) related project(s).

• Requirements: Foster a holistic, multidisciplinary approach in the delivery of safe, quality, and comprehensive occupational and environmental health programs aimed at preventive health care, health promotion, and health restoration.
• Basic understanding of federal and state regulations applicable to occupational and environmental health safety.
• Serve as a resource for department managers and employees within the scope of knowledge and practice.
• Knowledge of occupational health policy and procedure in addition to emergency preparedness/disaster management.
• Basic working knowledge of computers, computer systems, software and office equipment

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from an accredited college or university is preferred, or graduate of an approved Nursing program (RN/LPN).
Minimum three years clinical nursing experience. This position must possess a current, unencumbered professional nurse’s license from the State of South Dakota. BLS certification, Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) from the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. preferred, but not required.