Archive for: Ask the expert—General OSHA
Ask the expert—Even the OSHA boogeyman gets a bad rap, sometimes
Q: My dental bill shows additional $10 fee (service code D9999 for “unspecified adjunctive procedure”). When I asked about it, the receptionist said: “Oh, that’s for the OSHA sterilization fee.” Did I just get ripped off?
A: You may not have been ripped off, but you certainly did not get an adequate explanation. Services that do not have a code receive the “99″ designation, so it would appear ambiguous on your bill.
Ask the expert: Aquariums and waiting rooms
Q: Is an aquarium allowed in the waiting room of a medical office?
A: The CDC Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities does not prohibit aquariums in waiting areas. However, it recommends against having such features in patient care areas.
Ask the expert: OSHA and in-person training
Q: Does OSHA require the trainer to be present for emergency and fire prevention standards and bloodborne pathogens training sessions, or is it permissible to use online training modules where the trainer is not physically present?
A: OSHA does not require the trainer to be physically present during training sessions.
Ask the expert: Artificial nails and nail length
Q: Where can I find the OSHA regulation prohibiting artificial nails in healthcare?
A: OSHA does not have a standard referencing artificial nails for healthcare workers, but the CDC has guidelines.
Ask the expert: OSHA standards and volunteers
Q: Concerning the bloodborne pathogens standard, is an organization required to provide the same education and vaccines to volunteers as it does to employees?
A: Volunteers are not usually covered under OSHA.
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?
Ask the Expert—Covers for electric outlets
Q: Do the electric outlets in our patient waiting area need safety covers?
A: OSHA does not address patient safety concerns, so unless the outlets pose an unusual hazard to workers, you would not need covers.
Ask the Expert—OSHA annual training and quick tip download tool
Q: I know OSHA requires annual training for bloodborne pathogens, but isn’t annual training also required for hazard communication, fire safety, and emergency preparedness?
A: Federal OSHA does not require annual training on hazard communication and emergency action plans standards. OSHA requires initial training on hire and when hazards change to the extent that additional training is required.
Ask the Expert—Don’t fall for all red flags
Q: A sales rep insisted that I had to recalibrate the audiometer in my practice every year or be subject to a possible OSHA fine. Is this true?
Ask the Expert—Non-scents in the workplace, or when the smell of co-workers makes you sick
Q: Some of our employees wear perfume at work, which results in headaches or allergic reactions for some staff members. Is there an OSHA rule for this?
A: When your employer makes you sick, that could be an OSHA matter. But when your co-workers make you sick—by their choices of fragrance and personal-care products— it’s not as clear cut.
