OSHA and the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare (AOHP) recently renewed their alliance to protect employee safety and health, particularly relating to reducing and preventing exposure to patient handling hazards, blood-borne diseases and emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities, according to an agency release.

"Healthcare professionals are exposed to a variety of on-the-job hazards everyday," said OSHA director Edwin G. Foulke Jr. "OSHA and AOHP are sensitive to the risks common in this industry, and are committed to continuing our efforts in developing materials and resources that protect healthcare employees from occupational hazards."

According to the release, the alliance between OSHA and the organization has already yielded Beyond Getting Started: A Resource Guide for Implementing a Safe Patient Handling Program in the Acute Care Setting, which provides occupational health professionals in the healthcare industry with tools to implement a safe patient handling program.