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OSHA Hospital Regulations

Whether you work in a hospital's pharmacy or laboratory or in its operating, engineering or laundry room, there is a list of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations you must understand and adhere to for the protection of all employees and patients. Although the combined OSHA regulations for hospitals are vast, there are several that apply across all departments and staff members.

  1. Bloodborne Pathogens

    • Under OSHA guidelines, all hospitals must have a written exposure control plan should an employee or patient be exposed to or expose someone else to a bloodborne pathogen. This plan must be made available to all employees and employees must have the opportunity to read the plan and ask any questions regarding it. Ideally, employees should be asked to review this plan annually and anytime any changes are made to it. All training and plan reviews must be done during working hours, at no extra cost to the employee.

    Latex Allergies

    • According to OSHA's website, 8 percent to 12 percent of health care workers may have or will develop an allergy to latex while working in a hospital. These allergies can range from minor irritations to more debilitating conditions that can lead to life-threatening situations. Testing must be made available to those who suspect a latex allergy and, if found to be positive, the appropriate gloves must be given to that employee for use during working hours. Examples of these include low-protein, powder-free and synthetic gloves.

    Needlesticks

    • Nurses are among the largest group of hospital workers injured by needlesticks each year. To prevent these unnecessary injuries, workers must be made aware of their hospital's engineering controls. These are the methods by which needlesticks and all other materials that could have been exposed to bloodborne pathogens are removed safely from the hospital. Self-sheathing needles, disposal containers and needless systems are all ways that hospital workers can be protected against possible exposure to needlesticks and bloodborne pathogens.

    Ergonomics

    • The basis of ergonomics is to make sure that the job fits the worker. This can make the difference between a satisfied worker and one who could possibly develop health problems later in his career. This includes providing and designing equipment that is best suited to the needs of the hospital's workers, whether on an individual basis or as a group. Common injuries in this type of workplace are musculoskeletal disorders that arise from ill-fitting equipment, heavy lifting and from not keeping in mind each worker's physical capabilities.

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