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Protective personal equipment (PPE) plays an important role in health care, preventing the spread of diseases and contact with toxic or sharp materials. PPE comes in many forms, providing multiple ways to protect health-care professionals and patients. Surgical masks and respirators are some of the most effective health-care PPE. Although both masks shield your mouth and nose, surgical masks and respirators differ in their purpose and use. Knowing the distinction between surgical masks versus respirators enhances the health and safety of your medical workplace and affects everyone who interacts with that space, from doctors to visitors. Check out our simple guide on surgical masks versus respirators and keep your office safe.  

The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA) establishes and enforces workplace health and safety standards. OSHA regulations cover an array of workplace health and safety protocols designed to combat the many possible dangers in one’s work environment. However, it is up to employers and employees to implement these best practices, follow regulation standards, and put in the effort to make their workplaces healthy and safe.

To ensure proper implementation of health and safety protocols, the Department of Labor sends out a team of OSHA representatives to conduct a workplace inspection. Learn how OSHA inspections are conducted and prepare to pass your inspection with flying colors.

Working in healthcare comes with many rewards, but the nature of the job also involves lots of health and safety risks. Healthcare workers encounter an assortment of workplace dangers, from bloodborne diseases to hazardous waste. Exposure to airborne hazards like infectious pathogens and toxic chemicals is among healthcare’s most common and serious dangers.

Health and safety protocols and best practices make a huge difference in a high-risk work environment, enhancing work conditions to better benefit workers and customers. Respiratory protection for healthcare workers is one of the many ways medical facilities can keep their employees and patients safe from airborne hazards.

Effective communication keeps workplaces operating smoothly, making sure everyone is on the same page, receives clear commands, and comprehends important information. OSHA’s standard for hazard communication establishes best practices for communicating hazards to enhance the health and safety of a workplace.

OSHA’s bloodborne pathogen standard protects workers from potentially deadly and serious viruses like the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B (HBV). Bloodborne pathogens can travel through bodily fluids, such as blood, saliva, and semen.

Healthcare workers are especially at risk of bloodborne pathogens due to the nature of their job. Common transmissions of bloodborne pathogens include direct dermatitis contact, respiratory transmissions, and penetration from infected objects, like needles. Following OSHA’s bloodborne pathogen universal precautions implements best practices and safety measures that protect yourself and others from the risks of bloodborne viruses in your workplace.

The Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) is Washington’s independent state health and safety plan for workplaces. It enforces many similar regulations to OSHA’s generic health and safety plan with a couple of additional components and more stringent requirements that apply to local state policies and circumstances. If you own a veterinary, dental, or medical business in Washington, familiarizing yourself with WISHA will help you solidify your compliance and optimize your office in many ways, from performance to safety.

The Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) creates national standards dedicated to protecting sensitive patient health information and the rights of individuals and covered entities involved.

Did you know that OSHA regulations and requirements vary by state? OSHA’s divided into several regions to ensure each state heightens the health and safety of its workplaces to best suit local needs and circumstances. Each region consists of a regional and several field offices that establish and enforce their independent OSHA regulations. Most states follow the generic OSHA program protocols, with minimal to no additional or changed rulings to OSHA’s health and safety best practices and requirements. The following listed states are the ones that have their own OSHA state plans. 

Proper OSHA dentistry procedures and enforcement of OSHA sterilization requirements in dental offices can prevent transmission of infections among patients and DHCP. 

Here are some sample blood and OPM exposure statistics from the Sharps Workbook for Designing, Evaluating and implementing a Sharps Injury Prevention Program, CDC, 2008.