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What is OSHA?
Home » Diseases » Bloodborne Pathogens » What is OSHA?OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration under the US Department of Labor. OSHA develops and enforces federal standards for occupational safety and health. It was created in 1971 and work-related deaths have decreased by 62% and injures decreased by 42%. Nurses and those who are in healthcare must be very observant and careful about needlestick injuries when administering shots and disposing of the needles and other blood exposures. In 1991, OSHA issued the Bloodborne Pathogens Standards to protect workers who are at risk for blood exposure. Section 5(a)(1) of the Act is referred to as the General Duty Clause.
Standards: OSHA standards requires employees to "furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm..." Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health standards." In 2000, The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act was signed into law. OSHA required and requires employers to identify, evaluate and implement safer medical procedures such as maintaining a sharps injury log for needle disposal. Employers must identify workers at risk and provide necessary materials to keep them safe such as safety needles, gloves, masks and other protective equipment. Employers must also provide medical treatment to those who are exposed to bloodborne pathogens.
Requirements: The OSHA standards cover private sector workers in all states. Employees must be trained and review the exposure control plan every 12 months. The training must be during working hours at no cost to the employee. Not only are the procedures required in the health care profession but also in public schools. Safety equipment must be provided. Employers must continually evaluate and select safer needles, gloves and all equipment. Equipment must be provided to employees and be in good quality, readily available and in appropriate sizes. After an exposure, all equipment and working surfaces must be cleaned and decontaminated after contact with blood/fluids.
Vaccination: Employers must make the hepatitis B vaccine available to those who could be exposed. The worker may decline the vaccination but must sign a waiver. If the employee changes his/her mind about the shot, then the employer must provide it at any time at not cost.
Exposures: If a worker is exposed to someone else's blood, then they must receive medical attention and also confidential screening for contamination and any follow-up treatments. The treatments may include antibiotics to prevent infections. A blood sample (with the employees consent) may be taken to test for HIV or hepatitis. This a daunting thought, but exposures are possible if procedures are not followed and even if they are followed.
Non-Compliance: What happens if an employer doesn't comply with OSHA standards? Penalties can go up to $70,000 depending on the severity of the violation. First-time violations and mild to moderate in nature can bring a fine of $7,000. Repeat offenders up to $70,000. All businesses with employees must display a federal or state OSHA poster that educates employees on safety and their health rights.
Inspections: OSHA conducts inspections in the workplaces where blood exposure is possible. They look for accidents that could happen, the employer's record, non-compliance complaints, referrals, employers that consistently have reports of high exposure rates and whether there is a need for follow-up inspections.
Precautions: If you work in an environment where a blood exposure is possible, it is wise to follow all procedures that are in place to protect you. By avoiding contact with someone's bodily fluids or blood, exposure won't be possible. Wear gloves, goggles and face shields if you are in the medical professions. If you only need gloves for a small exposure, then remove them properly. After tending the bloody wound, remove one glove while both gloves are still on your hands. When one glove is removed, carefully slip your hand inside the other glove and turn in inside out as you remove it. All blood soaked garments, gloves, etc. should be disposed of properly. Employers should have disposal bags provided by OSHA to place the soiled garments, dressings and gloves in for proper removal. Actually, there are some bodily fluids that do not require such precautions such as feces, nasal secretions, urine, throw-up, perspiration and spit. Saliva in the dental setting could be contaminated with blood so in this case the dentist should take precautions.
Needle-removers: Exposure to bloodborne pathogens is a reality in the healthcare profession especially with needles. The Needlestick Safety Act (2000) and the 2001 Bloodborne Pathogens Standard mandated the use of safety devices and needle-removers. There has since been an increase in the development of safety devices and needle removers. Most hospitals in the United States follow safety regulations to ensure their nurses are safe from bloodborne pathogen exposure.
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