Stricter Guidelines for Ebola Prevention
Stricter Guidelines for Ebola Prevention Many of us are aware of the potential for becoming victim to the Ebola disease. Like many diseases, it can be contracted by the very healthcare workers who are caring for the infected. Thus, the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, or the CDC, has become more scrupulous in […]
Heart Disease
Many people in the United States today suffer from a very common type of heart disease called coronary artery disease. This disease is very serious because it can lead to heart attacks. Coronary artery disease happens when the arteries become filled with a substance called plaque. This causes the arteries to narrow and decrease the […]
Diabetes
Over 29 million Americans have diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form affecting 90-95% of all diabetics. People with Type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance, meaning their bodies do not produce enough insulin or insulin is not used properly by the body. This causes glucose to build up in the blood instead of […]
How to prevent HBV
Hepatitis B is an infection that causes inflammation of the liver. It can survive outside the body for up to 7 days. It can become chronic and lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure and death. Hepatitis B can be contracted through sexual contact, needle sticks, blood transfusions, and the sharing of needles. One of […]
Healthcare Workers: Protect Yourselves!
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk for exposure to serious, and sometimes deadly, diseases. If you work directly with patients or handle material that could spread infection, you should get appropriate vaccines to reduce the chance that you will get or spread vaccine-preventable diseases. Protect yourself, your patients, and your family members. Make sure you […]
US Department of Labor’s OSHA revises Hazard Communication Standard
WASHINGTON – To better protect workers from hazardous chemicals, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has revised its Hazard Communication Standard, aligning it with the United Nations’ global chemical labeling system. The new standard, once implemented, will prevent an estimated 43 deaths and result in an estimated $475.2 million in enhanced productivity […]
What Can You Do to Reduce Sharps Injuries?
Safety Culture: What Can You Do to Reduce Sharps Injuries? Endorse the STOP STICKS campaign objectives and communicate to all staff (including management, clinical, and non-clinical) the organization’s commitment to the safety campaign. Ask managers and staff to also commit time and resources to the campaign. Attend briefing (or read materials) on establishing a […]
Oklahoma bill would create first dental assistant permit in the nation
A bill that would create the first oral surgery dental assistant permit in the country and require all dental assistants to have permits is awaiting the governor’s signature. Senate Bill 684 comes months after Tulsa oral surgeon Dr. W. Scott Harrington was found to be using unsanitary equipment and poor infection-control procedures that could have […]
Infectious Diseases
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are occupationally exposed to a variety of infectious diseases during the performance of their duties. Moreover, these workers can be found in a variety of workplace settings, including hospitals, nursing care facilities, outpatient clinics (e.g., medical and dental offices, and occupational health clinics), ambulatory care centers, and emergency response settings. The diversity […]
OSHA fines surgical center $68,000 for failing to protect workers exposed to bloodborne pathogen hazards
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited CTO Management LLC, doing business as Health East Ambulatory Surgical Center, with 10 serious violations for bloodborne pathogen hazards found at its Englewood facility. OSHA’s August 2012 investigation was initiated in response to a complaint and resulted in $68,000 in proposed penalties. The […]
The AIDS Free Generation is Due in 2015
This World AIDS Day – December 1st – we are launching a new campaign that brings light to the important fact that by 2015 we can have a world where virtually no child is born with HIV. With continued funding to organizations like the Global Fund, we have a chance to work towards a world […]
What can be done to control exposure to bloodborne pathogens?
In order to reduce or eliminate the hazards of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens, an employer must implement an exposure control plan for the worksite with details on employee protection measures. The plan must also describe how an employer will use a combination of engineering and work practice controls, ensure the use of personal protective […]