Archive for: April, 2011
CDC: Senior workers prone to certain injuries
A CDC report says older workers are not at increased risk to injury compared to younger workers, but are more prone to certain types of injuries such as falls and hip fractures.
New website launched to educate on antibacterial soaps
Two trade groups, the American Cleaning Institute® (ACI) and the Personal Care Products Council, have created a website FightGermsNow.com to provide consumers, researchers, and regulators with information about antibacterial soaps.
Insight on Workers’ Memorial Day and OSHA
Posting on the University of North Carolina Occupational & Environmental Medicine list, Mark Catlin, an industrial hygienist from Columbia, MD, thought it important for those in the safety profession to reflect on Workers’ Memorial Day, April 28. Especially since this year is also the 40th anniversary of the founding of OSHA.
Risk of MRSA in dental offices
People taking their annual trip to the dentist’s office may unknowingly be carriers of MRSA or other MDROs, potentially exposing themselves and other patients to infection control risks, according to an April Medscape article.
Citizens’ group to FDA: Ban latex glove use
If latex glove makers won’t quit, you must restrict.
That’s a short review of the April 25 letter sent to the FDA from Public Citizen Health Research Group on banning powdered and latex surgeon’s and patient examination gloves.
OSHA ramping up inspections for southeast outpatient facilities
OSHA announced a regional emphasis program that will bring more OSHA inspections to outpatient facilities in four southeastern states, according to an April 25 OSHA Region 4 announcement.
The program will focus on reducing the number of needlestick and sharps injuries in ambulatory surgical care centers, freestanding emergency care clinics, and primary care medical clinics in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi.
Infection control polices not followed at Ohio VA
In February, 553 dental patients at the Dayton (OH) Veterans Administration (VA) hospital underwent hepatitis and HIV testing after suspicions of poor infection control compliance regarding a dentist who had worked at the clinic for years. (Read the full story at OSHA Healthcare Advisor.)
Study finds UV powder surveillance improves sanitation
A study published in the March Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology Journal found that ultraviolet powder used to evaluate the cleanliness of surfaces in healthcare facilities improved cleaning rates after weekly feedback.
Hazardous drug exposures: It’s not just an oncology-nursing issue
The occupational dangers from hazardous drugs in oncology have received lots of media attention recently, but hazardous drug exposure, especially to nurses, is not limited to caring for cancer patients, as an article in the March-April issue of MedSurg Nursing points out.
Weekly Poll: Future regulations on hazardous drugs
With OSHA, NIOSH and the Joint Commission recently warning healthcare facilities about protecting staff from hazardous drugs, and the passage of laws in Washington state specifically aimed at preventing hazardous drug exposures to healthcare employees, what does the near future hold for hazardous drug exposure regulations? Take our OSHA Healthcare Advisor Weekly Poll and let us know.
iScrub application monitors hand hygiene compliance
Step aside, Angry Birds (a popular game for those of you not of the app universe), there’s a new smart phone application in town that’s vying for the attention of healthcare workers. Enter iScrub, which aims to increase hand hygiene compliance.
Transporting blood and urine samples
Q: A question about transporting blood and urine samples. Do the samples need to be in a biohazard bag when transported either by hand, on a cart, or via a tube system that can go both to the lab and the pharmacy?
