Notes from the field: YUCK! You got PUS, WHERE?
As I was finishing up an OSHA training class, I saw a physician running down the hall. We all turned around trying to figure out what had happened. I went to see if I could help in any way. I found the physician standing over the sink gulping and spitting out water. The medical assistant proceeded to tell me what had happened.
A patient came in complaining about an abscess on his back. The physician retrieved a surgical tray and gloves. During this minor surgery procedure (incision and drainage), the abscess popped and pus flew into the physician’s mouth. As the physician was rinsing out his mouth he looked at me as if to say, “I know, I know!!”
We had talked about personal protective equipment (PPE) during a physician training class. He had refused to wear the impervious gown, mask, and goggles that were on site and ready for use. He had not worn a lab coat that day, but, unless it was impervious to fluids, he still would need to don a protective gown. Scrubs are also not approved as PPE.
This physician is listed on the exposure determination list and had been educated on proper use of PPE.
Pus is considered other potentially infectious material (OPIM) and an I&D is a procedure where you anticipate that you may be splashed or sprayed with this substance. PPE is intended to function as protection.
This is not the first incident I have been involved with, where a physician refused to wear PPE when doing an I&D. There have been incidents of pus in eyes, on the face, and on clothing.
Wearing the required PPE IS NOT OPTIONAL. Physicians are usually employees of the corporation, just as the staff are employees. Therefore, they may not decide to decline the use of PPE due to inconvenience or personal preference, according to the bloodborne pathogens standard.
Yes, the physician re-entered the exam room wearing the proper PPE and finished the surgical procedure.
« Here’s one reason for lab workers should get the smallpox vaccine | Home | Weekly Poll: Required flu shots »
-
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
Kathy Rooker
Kathy Rooker is the safety officer and owner of Columbus Healthcare & Safety Consultants, Canal Winchester, OH (krookerchsc@gmail.com or 614-833-9092). Rooker has more than 35 years experience working in the healthcare field and currently provides OSHA and CLIA consulting and inspections for physician practices and conducts OSHA annual training seminars in and around Central Ohio. In her "Notes from the Field" posts, she shares real life OSHA compliance issues and offers solutions to these sometimes complicated situations.
Kathy has written 19 posts.
Leave a Comment