Recent COVID-19 OSHA Violations
A nursing facility in Bloomingdale, Illinois was fined after violating several OSHA COVID-19 protocols. A follow-up inspection conducted due to the new Emergency Temporary Standard and National Emphasis Program for Coronavirus Disease 2019 found many OSHA violations. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found one repeat and five health violations; […]
3M N95 Fit Test Training for Healthcare Providers
Fit Testing Fit testing is used to ensure that respirators are used and worn correctly for healthcare workers. This is because they are often in direct contact with patients who have infectious respiratory diseases. Before a worker first uses a respirator, they must go through an initial testing. After that, there is an annual fit […]
Violence in the Workplace
Violence in the workplace is a large issue that greatly affects the nation, specifically among safety and health professionals. Data collected from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has supported this ongoing issue. In addition, it shows the importance of taking future preventative action. Unfortunately, workplace violence often times goes unnoticed. Despite […]
The Role of Business Associates
Healthcare providers have a large responsibility and role. Because of this, they often need assistance from others to carry out specific healthcare tasks. So, providers can use business associates who provide their services to complete these tasks. What Is a Business Associate? A business associate is any person who assists a covered entity by doing […]
OSHA Standards in Healthcare
Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The administration aims to provide and ensure safe work conditions for employees. They do this through enforcing OSHA standards and providing specific training, education and assistance. Exposure Control Plan OSHA standards require several components of the exposure […]
Prevention of Workplace Violence
Workplace violence is any act in the workplace that involves physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other disruptive behavior. This can affect employees, clients, customers, and visitors and has a major effect nationwide. The third leading cause of fatal occupational injuries in the United States is due to violence and other injuries. Risks of Workplace Violence The […]
Understanding Federal Fraud, Waste and Abuse Laws in Healthcare
The False Claims Act, Physician Self-Referral Law, and Exclusion Statute are included as the main Federal fraud and abuse laws applicable to physicians. It is important to understand and follow these laws, because failure to do so can result in punishments ranging from civil fines to exclusion from Federal healthcare programs. Defining Fraud, Waste and […]
Infection Control for Healthcare Personnel
Infection control is an important tool for all healthcare professionals. It is defined as the action to prevent or stop the spread of infection. There are many methods to assist in infection control. Overall, it is necessary for healthcare personnel to utilize these methods to create a safe healthcare environment. Types of Infection Control Precautions […]
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Sexual harassment may be an issue employees face in the workplace. It can inhibit the employees’ ability to perform well at work and can have an effect on the work environment. Overall, this type of harassment is never welcome and prevention is key. What Is Sexual Harassment? Sexual harassment can occur in a variety of […]
A Just Culture Promotes Accountability and Patient Safety
Humans make mistakes and errors. These mistakes can be common in the healthcare setting because many events are complex or risky. In these situations, mistakes can lead to negative effects or even death. One common approach to solve this issue is to identify the individual that caused the problem and punish them. But, this does […]
OSHA’s New Emergency Temporary Standard
As the coronavirus pandemic worsens, a new emergency temporary standard has been released by The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The standard provides new guidelines to protect healthcare workers from contracting COVID-19. Those who are likely to come in contact with the virus are the focal point of the new standard. […]
The Push To Ban Cloth Masks
The use of cloth masks rose to popularity in the earliest stages of the pandemic; however, research shows cloth masks are less effective than medical masks. Due to the more transmissible COVID-19 variants emerging, such as delta, many countries are making the decision to ban cloth masks. It is unknown if America will follow […]