Occupational Safety and Health Issues

• Respiratory Protection VA Document  
  • Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings 2007
  • Link to private web 
  • OSHA interpretation eyewear
  • Respiratory Protection in Health-Care Settings: Last Updated: April 2006 -- "Fit testing performed during the initial respiratory protection program training and periodically thereafter, in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations."
  • "FDA and NIOSH "National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) notified healthcare professionals that twelve incidents have been reported in which regulators used with oxygen cylinders have burned or exploded, in some cases injuring personnel."  FDA alert
• Tuberculosis Prevention 

  • Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings 2007  -  Highlights Concerning Respiratory Protection:

• Violent Behavior Prevention (includes:  PMDB course information)
  • Office of Personal Management - Dealing with Workplace Violence: A Guide for Agency Planners   This handbook, developed by the Office of Personnel Management and the Interagency Working Group on Violence in the Workplace, is the result of a cooperative effort of many Federal agencies sharing their expertise in preventing and dealing with workplace violence.  It is intended to assist those who are responsible for establishing workplace violence initiatives at their agencies.
• Terrorism -- Weapons of Mass Destruction          
• Asbestos 
  • Asbestos- The Office of Personnel Management has issued a final rule to implement a statutory change that requires the use of the OSHA PEL standard for concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers for a Environmental Differential Pay category that covers Federal prevailing rule (wage) employees.                      
• Needle Safety   
  • OSHA Interpretation Concerning Personal Protective Equipment - Acupuncture (Bloodborne Pathogens) - Need for PPE is performance-oriented.  OSHA Interpretation Page                     
• Ergonomics
• DASHO Letter Concerning - VA-Wide Motor Vehicle Safety Program Clarification- National Driver Register- Operated under the Department of Transportation's NHTSA - Forms must be submitted to the state the driver is licensed (see link) and be notarized. 
• OSHA Bulletin for Hearing - Impaired Workers:   Innovative Workplace Safety Accommodations for Hearing-Impaired Workers                     
• Latex Allergy Prevention                      
• Biological/Communicable Disease OSH Issues  (Includes:  SARS, Norovirus/Norwalk virus,  Legionellosis, Smallpox, West Nile, and mold)         
• Other OSH Issues (Includes: Links to Select Publications and Topics such as Terrorism)
• NIOSH Publication 2005-110:  Specific Medical Tests or Examinations Published in the Literature for OSHA-Regulated Substances
• GAO Report (06-379) - OSHA Could Improve Federal agencies' Safety Programs with a More Stategic Approach to its Oversight