ALWAYS BE SAFE.  If you are injured, exposed, or have concerns about safety...
CALL BrightStar 415-332-3300
Your personal safety on the job is JOB NUMBER ONE!  Every healthcare environment has hazards and it's important you are aware of those hazards.  While BrightStar makes every effort to identify job-specific risks, the home environment is subject to frequent and often unexpected changes.  If you see or hear of anything that could possibly create safety risk for you or the patient, or if you or anyone in the location you are caring for a patient is injured CALL BRIGHTSTAR IMMEDIATELY: 415-332-3300.
If you are injured, we have you covered.  BrightStar has partnered with Insurance Company of the West to ensure injuries are addressed quickly to optimize your recovery. 
​Learn more about the injury management process.
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Home Safety Checklist
  • Call the office immediately if oxygen is brought into the home.
  • If oxygen is present, are oxygen safety precautions properly followed?
  • Are passageways free from clutter or tripping hazards?
  • Do rugs and carpets lie flat?
  • Are the smoke and CO2 detectors in working order?
  • Can you turn on a light without walking into a dark room?
  • Is the path between bed and toilet properly lighted at night?
  • Does the shower/tub have a non-skid surface and grab bars?
  • Are stairway handrails properly secured and adequate?
  • If oxygen is present, are oxygen safety precautions properly followed?
National Patient Safety Goals 2021
​Proper Disposal of Medical Waste
​Injury & Illness Prevention Program
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SAFE LIFTING: 
Proper Body Mechanics


Always be mindful of your body position whenever you are bending or lifting, no matter how light the weight.


Proper Lifting Technique Video

Bed to Wheelchair Transfer Video

Performing Safe Transfers Training

Sliding Board Transfers

Taking Care of Your Back Training
Home Oxygen Safety
Call the office immediately if you notice any of the following:
  • No "Oxygen in Use" sign on the door
  • Oxygen bottles in a closet, laying on the floor or covered
  • The use of anything with an open flame or anything that sparks
  • Anyone smoking in the home
  • Read more about oxygen safety by clicking on the link below
Oxygen Safety Checklist
File Size: 220 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
BrightStar's Injury & Illness Prevention Program is designed to protect every BrightStar team member. 
Our goal is to ensure your work environment is safe for you and our clients.  Home care presents a unique challenge with a different work site for each and every client.  We begin each job with an admission assessment and evaluate home safety in the beginning of each new job.  Our periodic supervisory visits include home safety re-evaluations.  Sometimes there are changes after we begin a case and that's where we need you to help.  Even if you aren't sure about a situation, call us right away.  Whether it's a change in the client's ability to use stairs or new furniture in the home, call us. We can get a nurse to the home right away to re-assess.  We would much rather have a nurse decide the change is safe than not know about a change.  If you wish to report unsafe conditions you can call the BrightStar office at 415-332-3300.   If you wish to report an unsafe situation anonymously, use the link below:
REPORT UNSAFE CONDITIONS ANONYMOUSLY
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Avoiding Needlesticks

  • Keep your eye on the needle at all times until it's placed into the sharps container.  Most of our needlestick injuries occurred while placing the device into the sharps container.
  • Bring standard-labeled, leak-proof, puncture-resistant sharps containers to clients’ homes. Do not assume such containers will be available there. Promptly dispose of used needle devices and sharps.
  • Plan for the safe handling and disposal of needles before use.
  • Secure used sharps containers during transport to prevent spilling.
  • Follow standard precautions, infection prevention, and general hygiene practices consistently.
  • Participate in your employer’s bloodborne pathogens training program annually.
  • Help your employer select and evaluate devices with safety features.
  • Use devices with safety features provided by your employer.
  • Report any needlestick and other sharps injury immediately to your employer.
If you experience a needlestick or sharps injury or are exposed to the blood or other body fluid of a client during the course of your work, immediately follow these steps:

• Wash needlesticks and cuts with soap and water.
• Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water.
• Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigants.
• Report the incident to BrightStar - 415-332-3300 ASAP
• Immediately seek medical treatment.
If you are injured:
  1. Call 911 if it is a medical emergency
  2. Call BrightStar immediately at 415-332-3300
BrightStar will get you to a doctor immediately


Medical Provider Network Information
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Bag Technique:
Joint Commission Best Practices

Protect yourself and prevent cross-contamination.  Proper bag technique is a simple way to prevent the spread of infection.  You never know when virulent pathogens are present. 
Nursing Bag Technique
Bag Technique Video
Download Bag Technique Checklist Now
HAZARD COMMUNICATIONS
​Material Safety Data Sheets


None of the products supplied by BrightStar Care are on the California Proposition 65 list.  You can view the list of products supplied and the Material Data Safety Sheet by clicking the link below:

CalOSHA Hazard Communications
VIEW Material Safety Data Sheets
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THE BRIGHTSTAR BINDER

Each home in which we are providing care has a white binder with important information for caregivers and nursing team members:







  • Patient advanced care directive/ POLST
  • Physician Orders
  • Emergencies in the home 
  • Important contact information
  • Patient's Plan of Care
  • Weekly Care Records
  • List of current medications
  • Medication Safety
  • Home Safety
  • Infection Control
  • Hand hygiene
  • Oxygen safety
  • Bloodborne pathogens & Standard Precautions
  • Material Safety Data Sheets