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 […]
TB Data Statistics
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world’s deadliest diseases: One third of the world’s population are infected with TB. In 2011, nearly 9 million people around the world became sick with TB disease. There were around 1.4 million TB-related deaths worldwide. TB is a leading killer of people who are HIV infected. A total of […]
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 […]
Viral Hepatitis Transmission
Viral Hepatitis Transmission People can be infected with the three most common types of hepatitis in these ways: • HAV: Ingestion of contaminated fecal matter, even in tiny amounts, from close person-to-person contact with an infected person, sexual contact with an infected person, or contaminated food, drink, or objects. • HBV: Contact with infectious blood, […]
CDC Scientists Produce Speedy Results Analyzing H7N9 Virus
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 […]
New England Hematology/Oncology Associates faces nearly $47,000 in proposed fines
ANDOVER, Mass. – New England Hematology/Oncology Associates PC, a medical service provider in Newton, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration for an alleged willful and an alleged serious violation of workplace safety standards after an OSHA inspection revealed that workers were being exposed to biohazards. Proposed penalties total […]
Hepatitis Testing Day
May 19, 2013 is Hepatitis Testing Day. Health care workers are at risk of contracting hepatitis B and C in the workplace. Doctors, nurses, and other staff are predominately exposed to these devastating and incurable diseases through needle sticks and other sharps injuries or when fluids from patients splash onto their eyes, nose, or mouth. Hepatitis […]
Benefits of Testing for Current HCV Infection
Testing for HCV Infection: Accurate testing to identify current infection is important to: 1) Help clinicians and other providers correctly identify persons infected with HCV, so that preventive services, care and treatment can be offered; 2) Notify tested persons of their infection status, enabling them to make informed decisions about medical care and options for […]
Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention
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 […]
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 […]