UAN nurses have the power to protect themselves and their coworkers from safety hazards in the workplace, to reduce injury and illness rates and to ensure that health and safety laws, as well as OSHA and JCAHO standards, are enforced. 

As union members, UAN nurses have several tools to improve safety and health at work:

• Contract language 
  UAN nurses have negotiated contract language requiring hospitals to improve hazards, such as implementing no manual lift policies and providing adequate lifting equipment.  Examples
• Safety and health committees 
  A joint labor and management committee, with equal numbers of representatives from the union and management, is one of the most effective tools for making real improvements in the safety of your facility.
• Information 
  Join the UAN Health and Safety Bulletin, a community of UAN health and safety activists to receive regular news and share knowledge through email.  Contact Sara Markle-Elder for more information.
• Training
  UAN offers a variety of training opportunities for its members.
• Action
  Tell your senators that nurses need respirator protection, from tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.  Ask them to support annual fit-testing.