500,000 caregivers prevent accidents

KOSHA sign agreement with 2 associations consist of caregivers on implementing risk assessment and disseminating OSH notebook

KOSHA moves forward to help prevent injuries and illnesses of caregivers who take care of the elderly at home or at nursing homes.

President Hun-ki Baek of KOSHA signed MOU with Korea Care Association and Korea Care Workers’ Association on preventing occupational injuries and illnesses of caregivers, in El Tower’s meeting room located in Yang-jae, Seoul on 20 March.

Caregivers have higher possibility to be diagnosed with Musculoskeletal disorders(MSDS) as they could fall or hit by something while working for the elderly with limited physical activity or any movement.

In that sense, KOSHA revealed a plan to provide prevention activities for the 500,000 care givers enrolled in the two associations, throughout the agreement.

The agreement includes: technical assistance and risk assessment for nursing homes; financial assistance for facilities improvement in nursing homes; creating and disseminating OSH pocket notebooks; providing the workers with OSH training; supporting of prevention activities of MSDS.

President Baek said that the role of caregivers are all the more important as the country’s population gets older, adding that this MOU would serve as a starting point to help make an environment where caregivers work in a safe and pleasant work place.