Comments for OSHA Healthcare Advisor

Comment on Infection Prevention Handbook offers IC guidance for new IPs by Debbie Clark RRT, MPH

Debbie Clark RRT, MPH — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:19:58 +0000

Way to go Libby! I can’t wait to read the book. You have always been such a wonderful resource person anytime I needed help!

Comment on OSHA fines are down, but not for long by Marlene Waymack

Marlene Waymack — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:35:01 +0000

No healthcare facility of which I am aware intentionally intends harm for their employees. In our facility we go to great lengths to protect and take care of our valuable employees. Threats of fines from a regulatory agency do not force us into compliance nor help us further protect our employees. Instead, educational assistance and rewards for compliance would be more effective in promoting protection for healthcare workers. Healthcare workers numbers are stretched thin and facilities try to be proactive in support and protection of their workers. I also think this is absolutely true across the board for all of healthcare.

Comment on Ask the expert: PPE for dental assistants by Terry Horn, RDH

Terry Horn, RDH — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:49:51 +0000

I was a dental assistant for 14 years prior to attending college. I always wore a mask, gloves, lab jacket and either safety glasses or a face shield. I can’t imagine an assistant not every wearing these items every day, even if she/he is not chairside. The laboratory is full of many hazards to these empolyees. The doctor I worked for always provide all of his employees with these basic PPE’s.

Comment on Ask the expert: PPE for dental assistants by David LaHoda

David LaHoda — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:36:26 +0000

OSHA requires postexposure follow up and prophylaxis to follow the recommendations of Updated U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis. Box three of that document, Evaluation of Occupational Exposure Sources says: "If the source person is not infected with a bloodborne pathogen, baseline testing or further follow-up of the exposed person is not necessary."

Comment on Ask the expert: Sinks in exam rooms by David LaHoda

David LaHoda — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:03:13 +0000

"Handwashing with soap and at least tepid running water must be performed as soon as feasible, particularly in cases of gross contamination, to adequately flush contaminated material from the skin," according to Enforcement Procedures for the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens.

Comment on Ask the expert: PPE for dental assistants by Rosemary Gray

Rosemary Gray — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:43:58 +0000

After a sharp exposure if the Employee and Source lab work is negative for all,HIV ,Hep B&C does OSHA still require the employee to have lab work at 6weeks,3months,6 months.

Comment on Ask the expert: Sinks in exam rooms by Rocio Galindo

Rocio Galindo — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:10:05 +0000

Do the sinks need to have hot water in the exam rooms?

Comment on Whoa there a minute; IOM stands by its N95 recommendation by Bruce

Bruce — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:19:53 +0000

A space suit would offer even more protection than an n95, so why not we fit every employee with one? We have got to get back to some sense of sanity on these issues.

Talk to employees who spend all day donning , doffing and wearing an N95, they are wiped out at the end of the day. breathing 98.6 degree air and a higher level of CO will do that to you.

Comment on Ask the expert—Laundering scrubs by David LaHoda

David LaHoda — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:56:26 +0000

PPE is not based on the job title, but the hazards present. It is the employer’s responsibility to identify hazards, address those hazards in the written exposure control plan (ECP), and ensure that workers adhere to those requirements. So, first check your ECP. HCPro's OSHA Safety Program for Dental Offices includes a Sample Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Dental Office Procedures table on when to use gloves, gowns, and face protection in dental settings. You can download it from the Tools page. PPE must be cleaned by the employer. That is a requirement by OSHA.

Comment on Whoa there a minute; IOM stands by its N95 recommendation by David LaHoda

David LaHoda — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:31:22 +0000

Also, see the NIOSH comment: University of New South Wales (MacIntyre) Study on Healthcare Worker Respirator Use