Archive for: Ask the Expert—Bloodborne Pathogens
Ask the expert: Who can perform needlestick evaluations?
Q: May the licensed healthcare professional indicated in the postexposure evaluation be nurses or physician assistants (PA) and from our practice?
Ask the expert: Bloodborne pathogens training documentation
Q: What must I have on hand to document bloodborne pathogens training for
staff members?
A: “Training records shall be maintained for three years from the date on which the training occurred,” according to OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.
Those training records must include:
Ask the expert: Sticks with non-contaminated needles
Q: If an employee gets stuck with a non-contaminated needle, does OSHA view it as an exposure incident?
Ask the expert: Hepatitis B vaccination and titer
Q: Is it an OSHA requirement to obtain post-vaccination titer of the hepatitis B vaccine on newly hired employees?
Ask the expert: Workers who don’t respond to the hepatitis B vaccination
Q: What does OSHA require from an employer when a new employee fails to respond to the hepatitis B vaccination?
Ask the expert: Exam room cleaning log
Q: Must my medical practice keep a log of when exam rooms are cleaned?
Ask the expert: Safety devices and non-contaminated needles
Q: When drawing up medication, must we use a safety needle if it is not to be used to administer to the patient?
A: Non-contaminated needles are not subject to the bloodborne pathogens standard, according to Enforcement Procedures for the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens:
Ask the expert: Review frequency for the exposure control plan
Q: How frequently must I review the bloodborne pathogens exposure control plan?
A: The minimum review requirement is once a year, but that is only if nothing has changed in your facility concerning bloodborne pathogens hazards.
Ask the expert: OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard and contract workers
Q: What is my facility’s responsibility for the safety of contract workers under the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard?
A: OSHA says you share responsibility with the employer of the contract workers.
Ask the expert: Refusing the hepatitis B vaccination
Q: Under OSHA, may an employee refuse the hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine?
A: Yes, but the employer must first provide HBV vaccine information about its efficacy, safety, and method of administration, as well as the benefits of being vaccinated, and explain that the vaccination will be offered free of charge.
