OSHA Compliance Requirements

for Healthcare Industry

Rules under OSHA make it mandatory for employers

to ensure that the workplace is reasonably free of

health and safety hazards. Compliance with OSHA

involves communicating properly with workers on

health and safety norms and regulations. This will not

only help prevent workplace fatalities, but will also

help reduce workers' compensation and other insurance

costs.

Workers in the healthcare industry, whether it be

hospitals, medical centers, physicians’ offices or

clinics, are exposed to hazards associated with

laboratories, blood-borne pathogens, potential

chemical and drug exposures, radioactive material and

x-rays.

The following are some key OSHA standards that

apply to healthcare employers:

Blood-borne Pathogen Standards

Blood-borne Pathogen Standards are designed to

protect employees against the health hazards caused

by blood-borne pathogens. These pathogens include

the hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV)

and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Blood-borne pathogens can enter one’s body by an

accidental injury by way of a sharp object such as a

needle, broken glass, scalpel or anything that can

pierce or cut the skin.

To reduce such risks, the Needlestick Safety and

Prevention Act was enacted in November 2000. The

law requires employers to provide safer needlesticks

that eliminate or minimize exposure to blood-borne

pathogens.

Employers should record percutaneous injuries from

contaminated sharps. Information must be collected

about the injury and the type of device involved.

Blood-borne pathogens posters should be displayed at

the worksite for healthcare workers.

Ionizing Radiation Standard

Ionizing Radiation Standard applies to healthcare

facilities, research institutions, nuclear weapon

production facilities, nuclear reactor and allied support

facilities and various manufacturing settings where

employees are likely to be exposed to radiation from

portable and fixed X-ray machines.

The law requires employers to provide designated

restricted areas to limit employees' exposure to

radiation. Employers should also make sure that

employees working in designated areas wear personal

radiation monitors. The areas exposed to radiation and

the equipment should be labeled with caution signs.

Employers in thehealthcare industry must be in

compliance with OSHA requirements. This will help

prevent or reduce workplace hazards.

To know which OSHA requirements to comply with,

take help of a compliance services company. They will

take care of the compliance issues and suggest the

posters applicable to your business.

Labor Law Center provides labor law poster &

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