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Engineering and Medical Work Practice Controls
By Patricia A. Trites; MPA, CHBC, CHCC, CMP™ (Hon)
Dr. Charles F. Fenton, III; JD, FACFAS
Hope Rachel Hetico; RN, MHA, CMP™
Engineering and medical practice controls are methods used to isolate or remove bloodborne pathogen hazards from the workplace. These practices should be used to eliminate or minimize employee exposure by removing the hazard or isolating the employee from the exposure. However, where occupational exposure remains after institution of these controls, personal protective equipment [PPE] must be employed, as described below.
Engineering Controls
Engineering controls can be described as those an employer purchases and makes available to protect his or her employees. Examples are sharps containers, eye-wash stations, spill-kits, and safer needle systems. It is the employer’s responsibility to implement and maintain a system for ensuring engineering that controls are used. The engineering controls must be examined and maintained or replaced on a regular schedule to ensure their effectiveness. Conducting only an annual review of the engineering controls is inappropriate under the OSHA Standard.
Healthcare Work Practice Controls
Unlike engineering controls, healthcare work practice controls depend upon the behavior of the employee to reduce exposure. Examples are hand washing, utilizing universal precautions, and wearing appropriate PPE. Even with properly implemented work practice controls, exposure can still occur. Some of the engineering and work practice controls that must be addressed (if applicable to the specific healthcare organization) within the employee control plan [ECP] include:
- hand washing facilities and practices,
- treatment of sharp instruments,
- separation of food from contamination,
- certain procedures in the treatment of contamination,
- sterilization, and
- care of equipment.
Assessment
These engineering controls must be examined and maintained or replaced on a regular schedule to ensure their effectiveness. Conducting only an annual review of the engineering controls is inappropriate under the OSHA Standard.
Conclusion
How has OSHA affected your practice? Or, is it so 1999?
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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Glossary Terms, Health Law & Policy, Practice Management, Quality Initiatives, Risk Management | Tagged: bloodborne pathogens, Charles Fenton, ECP, eye-wash stations, hand washing, hope hetico, OSHA, Patricia Trites, personal protective equipment, PPE, safe needle, sharps containers, spill-kits |
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Hospital-acquired infections: Hard to sue or valid cause of action?
Are lawyers withdrawing from these cases, citing a lack of evidence and patient misinterpretation? You decide.
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/11/hospital-acquired-infections-hard-to.html
Shawn
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“I find this incompatible. On one hand we complain about patient’s ready to sue for all silly reasons, and then on other hand hospital not mustering enough courage to implement hygiene and safety checklists, and consequently face high preventable morbidity. How do the two co-exist?”
Re-posted from another blog:
Vikram C
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OSHA Considers Rule to Protect Healthcare Workers from Infectious Diseases
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration plans to issue a public report before the end of the year with guidance on protecting healthcare workers from infectious diseases. In June, the agency announced plans to convene a review panel to provide insights into possible regulation. If moved forward, the rule would affect hospitals, ambulatory-care centers, long-term and home health facilities, laboratories, and other relevant workplaces.
During the release of its regulatory agenda this summer, OSHA said employees in healthcare and other high-risk environments face long-standing infectious disease hazards. The federal agency tasked with assuring safe work conditions said it is “concerned about the ability of employees to continue to provide healthcare and other critical services without unreasonably jeopardizing their health.”
Source: Sabriya Rice, Modern Healthcare [10/1/14]
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