Health Care Workers

Washington – Twenty-eight percent of private dental practices have not fulfilled OSHA’s requirement for a written, site-specific bloodborne pathogens exposure control plan, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by NIOSH and the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention, an oral health care advocacy group.

Washington – A seven-part video series from NIOSH highlights new crash test methods intended to improve safety for emergency medical services workers and patients riding in ambulances.

Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands – A new policy paper from the Emergency Nurses Association and the International Nurses Society on Addictions emphasizes “alternative-to-discipline” methods for nurses and nursing students who may be struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.

Silver Spring, MD – Intended to promote better health habits among the nation’s 3.6 million registered nurses, as well as the patients they serve, the American Nurses Association has launched the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation Grand Challenge.

Washington – NIOSH has created an online topic page spotlighting a survey that examines hazardous drugs and chemical hazards present in the health care industry.

Sacramento, CA – California lawmakers are moving forward with legislation that would require health care facilities to use scavenging systems to reduce “surgical plume" – toxic airborne contaminants that threaten surgical staff and patients.

Washington – NIOSH has released two electronic modules for tracking sharps injuries, as well as blood and body fluid exposures, among health care workers as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Occupational Health Safety Network.

Washington – NIOSH is seeking information from facilities that stockpile N95 respirators and high-level protective surgical gowns as part of a research study that will examine how storage conditions affect the deterioration of personal protective equipment.

Chicago – Medical residents and fellows, including first-year residents, will be allowed to work for up to 28 consecutive hours without sleep as part of revised requirements recently approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Washington – Are you getting enough sleep before you show up for work? For employees in a number of industry sectors, including health care, food service and transportation, the answer frequently is “no.”