OSHA Healthcare Standards

The health care industry is full of health and safety risks, but according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employees have the right to a hazard-free work environment. As such, safety standards were devised so that health care facilities can identify, minimize and eliminate risks.

Bloodborne Pathogens

• According to OSHA, approximately 5.6 million employees in the health care industry are exposed to bloodborne pathogens. Unfortunately, bloodborne pathogens are very dangerous and can even be deadly. To avoid exposure, OSHA says that health care facilities must use extreme caution when working with needles and sharps, and that all blood or bodily fluid spills must be cleaned up immediately.

Personal Protective Equipment

• Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as latex gloves, face masks, lab coats and safety glasses, must be worn by health care staff who interact with contagious patients, perform medical procedures or work in the laboratories. When working with X-rays, staff must wear lead vests or coats to protect them from radiation exposure.

Noise Control

• According to OSHA, laundry, engineering and heliport sections of health care facilities can become very loud and expose workers to high occupational noise levels. Employees' ears must be protected so that they do not experience hearing loss or ear damage. This can be accomplished by installing acoustical barriers and shields in noisy areas, enforcing staff to wear earplugs or earmuffs, and diverting the sound energy flow away from the employee.