Comments on: Ask the expert—Laundering scrubs

By: David LaHoda

David LaHoda — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:56:26 +0000

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.

By: vincent

vincent — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:16:42 +0000

Can you let me know if Dental assistants are required to wear PPE and if so what are the options for cleaning them.

thanks

By: David LaHoda

David LaHoda — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 04:32:08 +0000

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.

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:34:56 +0000

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.

By: David LaHoda

David LaHoda — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:54:48 +0000

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.

By: Jamie Westin

Jamie Westin — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:47:20 +0000

- 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

By: David LaHoda

David LaHoda — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:57:36 +0000

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.

By: Michael McDonnell

Michael McDonnell — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:10:28 +0000

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?

By: David LaHoda

David LaHoda — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:15:09 +0000

Here are the two sections of the bloodborne pathogens standard relevant to your contaminated laundry question:

1910.1030(d)(4)(iv)(A) Contaminated laundry shall be handled as little as possible with a minimum of agitation. 1910.1030(d)(4)(iv)(A)(1) Contaminated laundry shall be bagged or containerized at the location where it was used and shall not be sorted or rinsed in the location of use.

Enforcement Procedures for the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens, the document that OSHA compliance officers use during inspections elaborates:

Paragraph (d)(4)(iv). This paragraph reduces employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens by reducing the amount of manual handling of contaminated laundry. Restricting the sorting to the laundry area will also reduce contamination of additional surfaces. INSPECTION AND CITATION GUIDELINES. Paragraphs (d)(4)(iv)(A) and (A)(1) limit the handling of laundry to removal and bagging or containerization. The compliance officer should check the laundry collection program as well as the training of the employees assigned to these tasks.

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.

By: Jeanne Thompson

Jeanne Thompson — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:25:59 +0000

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?