The basic precondition of a safe workplace is protection of the physical and psychological safety of the workforce.

Both are conspicuously absent or considered optional in many health care-delivery organizations. The prevalence of physical harm experienced by the health care workforce is striking, much higher than in other industries. Psychological harm also is common.

A report from the Lucian Leape Institute provides advice on how to create safer working conditions for health care personnel. The report can be accessed on the web here.