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Safety and Health Topics |
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In
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Healthcare facilities include hospitals, clinics, dental offices,
out-patient surgery centers, birthing centers, and nursing homes. Information on nursing homes
and personal care facilities is covered by a separate safety and health topic page.
There are numerous health and safety issues associated with healthcare
facilities. They include bloodborne pathogens and
biological hazards, potential chemical and drug exposures, waste anesthetic gas
exposures, respiratory hazards, ergonomic hazards from lifting and repetitive tasks, laser hazards,
hazards associated with laboratories, and radioactive material and x-ray
hazards. Some of the potential chemical exposures include formaldehyde, used for
preservation of specimens for pathology; ethylene oxide, glutaraldehyde, and
paracetic acid used for sterilization; and numerous other chemicals used in
healthcare laboratories.
In addition to the medical staff, large healthcare facilities employ a wide
variety of trades that have health and safety hazards associated with them.
These include mechanical maintenance, medical equipment maintenance,
housekeeping, food service, building and grounds maintenance, laundry, and
administrative staff.
The following questions link
to information relevant to healthcare facilities.
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What OSHA standards
apply?
Standards | Directives | Standard Interpretations |
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What are some common health hazards and possible solutions in this industry?
General References | Specific Hazards |
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What additional information is available?
Related Safety and Health Topics Pages | Other Resources |
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In Focus |
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Hot Topics
- OSHA's Small Business Guide for Ethylene Oxide. OSHA Publication 3359, (2009, April), 14 MB PDF, 87 pages. Provides guidance to help employers understand the EtO standard, with particular emphasis on how to monitor the quality of the air in workplaces where EtO is processed, used, or handled. Air monitoring is an important activity that can help alert employers when unsafe levels of EtO are present in the air so they can take steps to reduce employee exposure.
- Ethylene Oxide (EtO): Understanding OSHA's Exposure Monitoring Requirements. OSHA
Publication 3325-01N, (2007). Also available as a 183 KB
PDF,
32 pages.
- Compliance Assistance Quick Start. OSHA. By following this step-by-step guide, you can identify many of the major OSHA requirements and guidance materials that may apply to your workplace. Small and new businesses may find Quick Start helpful as an introduction to the compliance assistance resources on OSHA's website.
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Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers. OSHA Publication 3328-05, (2007). Also available as a 409 KB
PDF, 104 pages.
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Best Practices for the Safe Use of Glutaraldehyde in Health Care. OSHA
Publication 3258-08N, (2006). Also available as a 261 KB PDF,
48 pages.
- Senate
Bill 79(R) SB 1525. Texas Legislature. Adds Chapter 256 "Safe Patient Handling
and Movement Practices" to Section 1. Subtitle B, Title 4, Health and Safety Code.
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OSHA Best Practices for Hospital-Based First Receivers of Victims from Mass
Casualty Incidents Involving the Release of Hazardous Substances. OSHA,
(2005, January). Provides hospitals with
practical information to assist them in developing and implementing emergency
management plans that address the protection of hospital-based emergency
department personnel during the receipt of contaminated victims from mass
casualty incidents occurring at locations other than the hospital. Covers
topics such as victim decontamination, personal protective equipment,
employee training, and includes several informational appendices.
- Preventing
Occupational Exposure to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in
Health Care Settings. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-165, (2004,
September). Increases awareness among healthcare workers and their employers about the health risks posed by
working with hazardous drugs and to provide them with measures for
protecting their health.
- Bloodborne
Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention. OSHA Safety and Health Topics
Page.
- Securing
Medical Catheters. OSHA Fact Sheet, 352 KB PDF*,
2 pages.
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
OSHA Fact Sheet, 36 KB
PDF*, 2 pages. Provides an overview of worker protection
issues.
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Guideline for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities, 2003.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Also available as a 1 MB
PDF, 249 pages. Features an extensive background section including information on
air, water, environmental services, environmental sampling, laundry and
bedding, animals in healthcare facilities, and regulated medical waste. Also
includes specific healthcare worker recommendations which address the
rationale behind the guideline and rating categories. The CDC is recommending
that healthcare workers take steps to measure performance as suggested to
evaluate the recommendations. These steps are provided in the introductory
section of the Guideline.
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Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 52(RR10);1-42, (2003, June 6). Provides Part II of the Guideline. It does not contain
Part I - Scientific background section or appendix. Please see the PDF Version
above for the full publication with Parts I and II.
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West Nile Virus:
Alliances
eTools
*These files are provided for downloading.
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