Ask the expert—Laundering scrubs
Q: What does OSHA say about the home laundering of scrubs?
A: If in your facility scrubs do not function as personal proactive equipment (PPE)—most scrubs function as uniform and not PPE—then OSHA does not have oversight on laundering.
If the scrubs function as PPE, then the employer is in violation of the bloodborne pathogen standards by having employees clean, launder, and maintain them on their own:
1910.1030(d)(3)(iv)
Cleaning, Laundering, and Disposal. The employer shall clean, launder, and dispose of personal protective equipment required by paragraphs (d) and (e) of this standard, at no cost to the employee.
If non-PPE scrubs are becoming contaminated with blood or OPIM, you should have a policy that deals with how those garments are cleaned. For example, send it to a commercial cleaner identified as blood contaminated, or decontaminate the garment (probably with bleach) before sending home for cleaning. Include this information in your exposure control plan.
If this is a frequent situation, OSHA would question whether you are providing the proper training or adequate PPE selection for your employees.
Personal Protective Equipment Training Video: Comply with OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard is a good source for PPE-specific training in healthcare facilities. Click on the link for a short preview of the video.
Are contaminated scrubs a problem in your healthcare facility, or do you have a policy on how to handle non-PPE contaminated work garments? Post a comment below.
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David LaHoda
David LaHoda, the managing editor of Medical Environment Update and OSHA Watch, has produced healthcare training videos and consulted for medical practices and ambulatory healthcare facilities.
David has written 196 posts.
Comments
My question is about sheets and blankets for patient use and is not PPE for employees. Occasionally a sheet will get blood on it from an IV start and staff has treated the stain prior to sending out for laundry. Staff dons gloves and applies hydrogen peroxide to the stain, rinses and then places sheet in a yellow bag to alert laundry service staff. This has been done to prevent a stain from setting as the laundry service does not pretreat and the sheet comes back stained. Recent research by staff indicates this is against OSHA regs and that the contaminated sheet should not be treated prior to sending to laundry service. Can you clarify this for me?
Here are the two sections of the bloodborne pathogens standard relevant to your contaminated laundry question:
Enforcement Procedures for the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens, the document that OSHA compliance officers use during inspections elaborates:
So, yes, handling laundry more than necessary or sorting or rinsing in the location of use is a violation. Treating contaminated laundry in a designated laundry area, however, would not be a violation, according to the enforcement procedures document.
Can you tell me if regular scrubs, not scrubs provided by the hospital, worn by nurses need or have to have AAMI standards? Does the AAMI put standards on scrubs?
Can a scrub prevent health care workers from airborne pathogens?
Scrubs are not usually considered personal protective equipment (PPE) and neither AAMI nor ASTM award certification to scrubs for protection from pathogens. Surgical gowns, isolation gowns, and other PPE for healthcare settings do carry certification, but not scrubs.
- Even though most scrubs and lab coats are not considered PPE, there is a company in Pittsburgh that sells “ANSI/AAMI Level 2″ apparel for medical personnel (us paranoids) who want to have that extra protection. Their apparel meets level 2 criteria and it is also protected with an antimicrobial. http://www.onqor.com/onqor_ppe.htm
That is good information to have, Jamie, whether you are paranoid or not, which I don’t think you are. I suppose, though, that the purchase of these products come out of your pocket and not your employer’s.
How does a hospital accommodate a female nursing student who does not wear pants. To be forced to do so would go against her conscience. OR scrubs do come in a dress form but cannot be guaranteed to be available by the hospital. Is it appropriate to have them laundered by a facility that meets the standards and then present proof of such? Or would you handle it another way.
As this is not a federal OSHA concern–scrubs are not considered PPE—and not a safety question, I admit that I am out of my expertise here.
Essentially you have a uniform issue, which usually falls under corporate policy but sometimes state departments of labor have uniform provision and reimbursement regulations.
What is you corporate policy for uniform/scrubs? Does your facility provide them? If so you probably need to make a reasonable accommodation for her preference. If it is the employee’s responsibility to provide the scrubs, your policy should state what is an acceptable uniform for appearance.
Perhaps other readers have faced a similar experience. I can’t believe your situation is unique.
In any event, check with your state’s department of labor for relevant regulations.
Can you let me know if Dental assistants are required to wear PPE and if so what are the options for cleaning them.
thanks
PPE is not based on the job title, but the hazards present. It is the employer’s responsibility to identify hazards, address those hazards in the written exposure control plan (ECP), and ensure that workers adhere to those requirements. So, first check your ECP.
HCPro’s OSHA Safety Program for Dental Offices includes a Sample Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Dental Office Procedures table on when to use gloves, gowns, and face protection in dental settings. You can download it from the Tools page.
PPE must be cleaned by the employer. That is a requirement by OSHA.
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