OSHA Standards
1
The U.S. Department of Labor developed a federal regulation relating to
controlling infection and use of asepsis. This regulation was described as the
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standards of 1991. The acronym OSHA stands
for Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act. This law is meant to
protect workers in the health field from accidentally acquiring infections.
The following are the different categories of OSHA:
Universal/standard precautions: This is the heart of OSHA. This
precaution means assuming that all blood and body fluids are infected
with bloodborne pathogens.
Body substance isolation: This involves the use of personal
protective equipment when in contact with blood and other infectious
materials. For example: gloves, masks, shoe covers, and face shields.
Workplace controls: Reduce the exposure by varying the manner in
which techniques are used. For example: wash hands, bandage cuts,
and flush your eyes if exposed.
Engineering controls: This is removing health hazards from the
workplace by mechanical and physical means. For example: hand
washing and tongs to pick up broken glass.
Housekeeping: This is maintaining the workplace. All equipment and
instruments used must be appropriately cleaned immediately after
usage.
Hepatitis B vaccination: All employees at risk for exposure have the
vaccine available to them, free of charge. The vaccine is an
intramuscular injection given in three doses. The second injection is
given 30 days after the first, and the third injection given 6 months
from the first.
How do you dispose of biohazardous materials?
Biohazardous wastes are potentially infectious materials. These materials can
include, but are not limited to, the following:
Blood and blood products
Human tissues
Vaccines
Body fluids
Soiled linen or clothing
Used instruments, such as sharps
OSHA Standards
2
Used personal protective equipment (PPE)
The following are the steps to disposal:
1. Wear gloves when disposing of waste.
2. Place the waste in the appropriate container marked biohazard.
3. Keep containers closed when not in use.
4. Dispose of sharps or needles into the container.
5. Do not break, recap, or reuse contaminated needles.
6. Discard disposable sharps containers when they are two-thirds full.
Standard Precautions
Wash hands after touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions,
and contaminated items. Wash hands before and after removing
gloves, before and after procedures, and in between patient contact.
Wear gloves when touching blood, body fluids, excretions, and
secretions and with patients who have open wounds.
Wear PPE during procedures that generate splashes or sprays of
blood, body fluids, excretions, and secretions. PPE includes masks,
face shields, eye protection, and gowns.
Contaminated patient care equipment must be handled with care.
Maintain environmental control such as routine care, cleaning, and
disinfection of surfaces.
Occupational health and bloodborne pathogens standards, if used, will
help avoid injuries when using sharp objects.
To avoid injury, never recap needles using both hands.
Isolation procedures should be used to remove diseased individuals so
that they do not contaminate others.
Delivering a high-quality product at a reasonable price is not enough anymore.
That’s why we have developed 5 beneficial guarantees that will make your experience with our service enjoyable, easy, and safe.
You have to be 100% sure of the quality of your product to give a money-back guarantee. This describes us perfectly. Make sure that this guarantee is totally transparent.
Read moreEach paper is composed from scratch, according to your instructions. It is then checked by our plagiarism-detection software. There is no gap where plagiarism could squeeze in.
Read moreThanks to our free revisions, there is no way for you to be unsatisfied. We will work on your paper until you are completely happy with the result.
Read moreYour email is safe, as we store it according to international data protection rules. Your bank details are secure, as we use only reliable payment systems.
Read moreBy sending us your money, you buy the service we provide. Check out our terms and conditions if you prefer business talks to be laid out in official language.
Read more