Hospital Employee Health – April 1, 2011
April 1, 2011
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Mandatory flu shots: Science relatively weak on protecting patients, absenteeism
Everyone agrees that health care workers should receive the influenza vaccine each year to protect themselves and their patients. -
OSHA: Mandatory vaccine policies allowed
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Injuries drop in OSHA crackdown on OR safety
It is notoriously difficult to convince surgeons to change their methods and tools in the operating room to improve sharps safety. But in Tennessee, intransigence is apt to lead to a citation from the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration. -
Will OSHA build on 10-year BBP success?
Ten years ago this month, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued its revised Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. As the agency now considers making changes to that rule, it has amassed largely favorable reviews from health care providers, professional organizations, and safety experts alike. -
IOM: Protecting HCWs is 'integral' to quality care
The H1N1 influenza pandemic may prompt lasting changes in the personal protective equipment for health care workers and the rules that govern them. -
OSHA: Train employees on proper use of PPE
Do all of your employees know which personal protective equipment (PPE) to wear and when? A compliance directive from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration underscores the employer's responsibility to assess hazards and identify appropriate PPE and to train employees on each type of PPE. -
Beyond droplets: Is flu airborne in near-range?
A recent study of flu aerosols may lead to a new way of thinking about disease transmission. A patient's cough spews tiny particles that remain viable and can penetrate to the lower regions of the lungs, according to a report from West Virginia University in Morgantown. -
Top slip and fall hazard: Water on the floor
The water that splashes onto the floor in the kitchen, gets tracked into the lobby on a rainy day, and spills near the nurses' station is more than just a nuisance. It's a hazard that could lead to costly injuries.