In addition to protecting against inhalation of harmful airborne particles, sample units from four models of N95 filtering-facepiece respirators (FFRs) were found to be resistant to fluid penetration by synthetic blood in laboratory tests by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and an independent testing laboratory.
On January 16, 2007, OSHA’s Director of Enforcement, Richard Fairfax, explained in a letter of interpretation requirements for first aid, CPR, and bloodborne pathogens exposure training. Does everyone need to be trained? What if there is a career rescue squad within five miles of the workplace?
OSHA has medical screening and surveillance requirements for 24 standards, including asbestos, bloodborne pathogens, cotton dust, HAZWOPER, lead, noise and respiratory protection.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Red Cross have renewed their alliance to continue efforts to reduce workplace incidents and protect workers from hazardous exposures.
Potential eye hazards against which protection is needed in the workplace are: Projectiles (dust, concrete, metal, wood and other particles); Chemicals (splashes and fumes); Radiation (especially visible light, ultraviolet radiation, heat or infrared radiation, and lasers); Bloodborne pathogens (hepatitis or HIV) from blood and body fluids.
In a three-month period this year, health care workers at Bergen Regional Medical Center LP in Paramus were victims of violent patients in eight incidents, including one in which a nurse suffered a laceration and bruises attempting to stop an attack on a patient.
A commentary published by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (JOEH) highlights the potential dangers faced by actors in the adult film industry and reviews potential enforcement actions and regulatory developments concerning the industry.
Targeting some of the most common causes of workplace injury and illness in the healthcare industry, OSHA announced that it is expanding its use of enforcement resources in hospitals and nursing homes to focus on: musculoskeletal disorders related to patient or resident handling; bloodborne pathogens; workplace violence; tuberculosis and slips, trips and falls.
The Wyndham hotel is next door to Massachusetts General Hospital
May 29, 2015
Housekeepers at the Wyndham hotel say they’re being exposed to used syringes, blood, vomit and other bodily fluids while cleaning rooms used by people who stay at the hotel after leaving Massachusetts General Hospital, which is next door to the hotel.
Just as businesses conduct spring cleaning to discard unwanted items, this season should be used as an opportunity to rid the workplace of poor safety habits.
