Q & A Archive
Q: I was amazed when our practice administrator showed me how much it costs to dispose of our infectious waste in our seven-physician practice. Any ideas on how to cut costs in this area?
Q: I disagree with your training tips on removing PPE equipment as stated in your July/August 2006 OSHA Watch issue. We have always been taught to remove the gown first. If you remove the gloves first, contaminates from the gown will contaminate the hands. I guess it matters if you have someone to untie the strings on the gown for you. You should also add training tip #4 - Wash your hands. Should be a given but unfortunately not everyone does it when they should.
Q: One of our employees says she is always cold and has brought her space heater to work. She keeps it under her desk. Is this an OSHA violation?
Q: We've heard that oil-based hand creams should not be used when wearing latex gloves. In our practice, we use latex gloves many times each day. Can you please elaborate on exactly what substances we should use to keep our hands from drying and cracking, but that don't compromise the protective barrier of our gloves?
Q: We've outgrown our current building and plan to relocate to a larger facility next year. In the meantime, space is at a minimum and, in some areas, boxes and other things are stacked from floor to ceiling. Any suggestions for avoiding OSHA violations?
Q: How long do MSDS sheets need to be kept after discontinuing use of a hazardous chemical?
Q: In OSHA's list of potentially infectious materials, urine and some other body fluids are not listed. The hospital where I worked previously considered all body fluids to be infectious. Are there two separate OSHA standards, one for hospitals and one for outpatient settings?
Q: We were told that OSHA requires an evacuation plan. This seems like overkill for our three-person office. We all know how to get out of the building!
Q: Does OSHA require using "check strips" to verify potency of cold sterilants (glutaraldehyde)?
Q: How stringent are the time frames for administering the Hepatitis B vaccine to workers? I know the vaccine schedule of initial dose, then one-month and six-month dose. But employee vacations and sick leave may prevent us from adhering strictly to this schedule. Exactly how far off can these doses be?
Q: What type of gloves should be worn when working with glutaraldehyde-based, high-level disinfectants for minor handling, such as removing instruments, and for major handling, such as cleaning instruments?
Q: Must the door to the room that holds biomedical waste have a lock? Or may we just indicate on the outside of the door that there's biomedical waste inside (by using a biohazardous waste label)?
Q: A clinical employee believes that she should be offered immediate prophylactic treatment for HIV if she sustains a needlestick. Is this true?
Q: Should the door to the room that holds liquid nitrogen & carbon dioxide cylinders be labeled in a certain way with specific indications on what's stored there, such as "Caution, Medical Gas"?
Q: One of our offices takes tissue for biopsy where it is placed into a small glass bottle containing formaldehyde. The bottle is only opened long enough to put the biopsy inside and then immediately closed. What are the restrictions, labeling, etc. required for working with that substance?
Q: What is NIOSH? Do we need to be in compliance with NIOSH regulations?
Q: Can TB be cured? I thought that once you had it in your system, active TB could not be completely cured, only controlled.
Q: How should we soak contaminated specula, in an enzyme cleanser or glutaraldehyde? It seems that if an employee has a sharps injury from contaminated specula that have been soaking in enzyme cleaner (rather than glutaraldehyde), they would need to go through the usual sharps injury procedures and blood testing.
Q: When we do weekly autoclave spore testing, are we required to run a "control" along with it?
Q: Our office leaves the ultrasound probe in an open gallon container of glutaraldehyde as they use the probe throughout the day. Are there other options for decontamination of the probe? Can we just wipe it down with alcohol? Any suggestions?
Q: I have a part-time staff member who needs the hepatitis B vaccine (HBV). We want to bill it through her insurance, but she is covered only through her husband's policy. We offered to pay any co-pays/deductibles, but she isn't thrilled about this option. Since she may not remain in our employ permanently, could we have her pay for the vaccine and reimburse her if she remains employed for at least six months?
Q: How soon after employees complete the HBV series vaccine should they be tested for immunity? Exactly which test should be ordered?
Q: Should employees who have positive PPDs continue to be tested yearly? Do they need to have a chest x-ray every year?
Q: Are we responsible to complete the 3-series hepatitis vaccine for an employee who stops working in our office immediately after the second vaccination?
Q: We heard about an OSHA citation for reusing the plastic barrel that holds phlebotomy tubes. This is confusing since we use a sharps container with a built-in needle remover and so does every other medical practice that we know of. Is reusing the plastic barrel an OSHA violation?
Q: Do cotton balls or bandages with only a drop of blood need to go in the biohazardous waste bag? How about used exam gloves?
Q: Do we need MSDS for the boxes of drug samples we give to patients?
These questions are taken from our OSHAWatch newsletter. Every edition brings information on new regulations, in-depth articles and practical tips for ensuring compliance, a subscriber question-and-answer section. Plus, subscribers get free access to Quality America's OSHA hotline, and a binder so that you always have the latest information right at your fingertips.
View Cart