Hospital Employee Health – January 1, 2004
January 1, 2004
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Warning to AHA: Expect to receive more complaints on needle safety
Hospitals that fail to use safer needle devices wherever possible including the operating room may find themselves the target of employee complaints or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citations. -
Ethylene oxide risks rising in hospitals
Long-term exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO), even at permissible levels, may be putting hospital workers at increased risk for breast cancer, recent studies suggest. -
Limit nursing shifts to protect patients
Nurses should be restricted from working more than 12 hours at time or more than 60 hours in a week to prevent error-producing fatigue, an Institute of Medicine (IOM) panel recommended in a comprehensive review of the nursing work environment. -
Washington voters reject preventive ergonomics rule
In an action that might have national repercussions, voters in the state of Washington have rescinded the only preventive ergonomics rule in the country. -
Hospital’s return-to-work program values nurses
Time is money when an employee is injured and cant return to work. Besides the financial burden for the employer in temporary disability payments, medical costs, and extra staffing, rehabilitation actually can suffer as employees stay idle at home. -
Roundtable gives boost to HCW flu vaccine
Why do so few health care workers get the flu vaccine each year? What can be done about it? -
Hospitals weigh ID route for HBV nonresponders
Is intradermal (ID) vaccination the answer for those who dont respond to two full series of hepatitis B vaccine? -
OSHA ends nursing home emphasis program
The heat is off of nursing homes or at least turned down from a boil to simmer. Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) administrator John Henshaw announced that the National Emphasis Program for nursing homes has ended. -
Bioterrorism Watch Supplement