Survey: HCWs report concerns about unsafe working conditions during COVID-19
Editor's Note The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, in Washington, DC, released a report on May 25 that summarizes findings from a national survey of frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey of 1,200 HCWs from all 50 states and the District of…
OSHA issues guidance on reuse, decontamination of N95 respirators
Editor's Note The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on April 24 issued interim guidance on the reuse and decontamination of N95 and other filtering-facepiece respirators during the COVID-19 pandemic. OSHA notes that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has identified research that suggests the following methods…
Joint Commission: OSHA requires Form 300A data to be submitted electronically
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on June 27 announced that the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) now requires employers (including many healthcare organizations) to report Form 300A data electronically because it no longer accepts paper submissions. Form 300A is a summary of serious work-related injuries and illnesses that occur…
CDC, OSHA issue Zika guidance for healthcare workers
Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on April 22 issued interim guidance for protecting workers, including healthcare workers, from occupational exposure to the Zika virus. The guidance states that: “Employers and workers in healthcare settings and laboratories should follow…
OSHA launches webpage on workplace violence in healthcare settings
Editor's Note The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on December 1 launched a new webpage to provide employers and workers with strategies and tools for preventing workplace violence in healthcare settings. The new strategies and tools focus on prevention programs that include: management commitment and worker participation worksite analysis and…
Hiding in plain sight: Surgical smoke threatens health of OR staff
Research has shown that electrosurgical smoke presents a serious health hazard for the OR team. However, many remain skeptical of its harmful effects, and compliance with smoke evacuation recommendations is not consistent. Electrosurgical smoke results from the vaporization of tissue, fluid, and blood into a gaseous form by electrosurgical instruments.…
Is your ASC ready for closer scrutiny on sharps safety?
For a variety of reasons, survey inspectors this year are looking more closely at ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) and other outpatient facilities for evidence of compliance with sharps-safety guidelines. Bloodborne pathogens, of course, have been a concern since awareness of HIV and hepatitis C emerged. Physicians and nurses have long…
Blunting sharps injuries in the OR continues to be a work in progress
A sharps injury strikes fear in every member of the surgical team. Regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requiring organizations to reduce employees' risk of injuries from sharps carry fines for those who don't follow them (sidebar). Specialty associations such as the American College of Surgeons (ACS)…
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