Ask the Expert—Tap or bottled water
Q: Our tap water in the office is terrible. What are the OSHA requirements for an employer providing safe drinking water to its employees?
A: Tap water may not be to your liking, and although you and your office mates may prefer bottled water, your situation would probably not be an OSHA violation.
The requirements to provide water in the workplace are covered under the sanitation standard 1910.141, for general industry. The standard states that the employer must provide potable water, which is “water that meets the standards of drinking purposes of the state or local authority having jurisdiction, or water that meets the quality standards prescribed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations, published in 40 CFR Part 141,” according to a letter of interpretation, “OSHA regulation on piped potable water supply.”
« Weekly Poll: Topics that give you trouble | Home | Patient handling bill reintroduced »
-
Categories
- Ask the Expert—Bloodborne Pathogens
- Ask the expert—General OSHA
- Ask the Expert—Hazard Communication
- Bloodborne Pathogens
- Emergency Action Plans
- Featured
- First Aid
- General Safety and Health
- Hazardous Waste
- Infection Control
- Lab Safety
- Needlesticks & Sharps Injuries
- Notes from the field
- OSHA – Citations & Fines
- OSHA – General
- Pandemic Influenza
- Popular
- Uncategorized
- Waste Management
- Weekly Poll Questions
-
Archives
-
Feeds
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
Question: Do all gloves (clean or dirty)need to go into regulated medical waste containers?
Thanks you
Annina
If the gloves are truly clean(uncontaminated), they do not meet the OSHA definition of regulated waste, and do not have to be treated as such.
What steps can an individual take to obtain potable drinking water in a County Workplace?
Not sure what you mean, but you might want to take a closer look at the Sanitation standard—1910.141.
If you work for a municipality or the state, you may not be covered under federal OSHA. Check if your state has its own OSHA.
We provide a kitchen/breakroom for our employees but I would like to know the exact guidelines for food/drink behind the reception desk and in Xray room. This is in regard to a dental office
OSHA does not give exact standards for details of your scenario, but if there is likely potential for bloodborne exposure in a work area, food, drink, and cosmetics are prohibited. Section 1910.1030(d)(2)(ix) of the standard says:
“Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, and handling contact lenses are prohibited in work areas where there is a reasonable likelihood of occupational exposure.”
For the purposes of a citation, OSHA says it will determine “reasonable likelihood” on a case-by-case basis.
Leave a Comment