Washington – An OSHA training video released Feb. 12 addresses respirator use among health care workers.
Intended for both employers and employees, the 33-minute video covers the main components of a respiratory protection program, the difference between respirators and surgical masks, and common respiratory hazards in health care settings – including airborne infectious agents that cause diseases such as tuberculosis, according to an OSHA press release.
The video also demonstrates how respirators help protect workers from airborne chemical hazards, such as glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde. The toxic chemicals, which are used to preserve tissue samples for medical analysis, can cause eye and nasal irritation, headaches, and asthma.
