Reliable Health Care Services, LLC. OSHA IN-SERVICE

Reliable Health Care Services, LLC. Personal Protective Equipment Personal Protective Equipment includes gloves, goggles, face shields, masks, laboratory coats, gowns, shoe covers, and surgical caps. Blood or other potentially infectious material must not pass through the equipment. The equipment protects clothes, undergarments, skin, eyes, mouth, and other mucous membranes. Never reuse gloves, when you are finished throw the gloves away immediately. The family is responsible to buy gloves for your use. Always use gloves when you are dealing with the client (i.e. bathing, laundry, and oral care.)

Reliable Health Care Services, LLC. Universal –Standard Precautions Standard Precautions reduce the risk of spreading pathogens and known and unknown infections. Standards Precautions are used in the care of all persons. They prevent the spread on infection from: Blood, all body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat) nonintact skin, mucous membranes HANDWASHING Wash your hands after touching blood, body fluids secretions, excretions, and contaminated items. Wash your hands even if you wore gloves. Wash your hands immediately after removing gloves and between patient or resident contacts. Wash your hands between tasks and procedures on the same person.

Reliable Health Care Services, LLC. HANDLING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES A hazardous substance is any chemical that presents a physical hazard or a health hazard in the workplace. Physical hazards can cause fires or explosions. Health hazards are chemicals that can cause acute or chronic health problems. Acute problems occur rapidly and last a short while. Exposure to hazardous substance can occur under normal working conditions or during certain emergencies. Such emergencies include equipment failures, container ruptures, or the uncontrolled release of a hazard into the workplace.

Reliable Health Care Services, LLC. Handling Hazardous Substances cont’d…. Hazardous substances include: Drugs used in cancer therapy, gases used to give anesthesia, gases used to sterilize equipment, oxygen, disinfectants and cleaning solutions, radiation used for x- rays and cancer treatments Hazardous substances containers include bags, barrels, bottles, boxes, cans, cylinders, drums, and storage tanks. Such containers need warning labels. Warning labels may include: precaution measures, what personal protective equipment to wear, directions about using the substance safely, storage and disposal information.

Reliable Health Care Services, LLC. Blood borne Pathogens Blood borne pathogens- Pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Contaminated-The presence or the reasonably anticipated presence of blood or other potentially infectious materials on an item or surface. Contaminated Laundry-Laundry which has been soiled with blood or other potentially infectious material or may contain sharps. Decontamination-The use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy blood.

Reliable Health Care Services, LLC. ERGONOMICS The study of how a workplace and the equipment used there can best be designed for comfort, safety, efficiency, and productivity. Force-The amount of physical effort required to perform a task (such as heavy lifting) or to maintain control of equipment or tools. Repetition-Performing the same motion or series of motions continually. Awkward postures-Assuming positions that place stress on the body, such as reaching above shoulder height, kneeling, squatting, leaning over a bed, or twisting the torso while lifting. Excessive exposure to these risk factors can result in a variety of disorders in affected workers. These conditions are referred to as musculoskeletal disorders or MSDs. MSDs can include conditions such as low back pain.

Reliable Health Care Services, LLC. TUBERCULOSIS An infectious disease that causes small rounded swelling to form on mucous membranes, especially pulmonary tuberculosis that affects the lungs. TB is spread when the affected person coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings. Others in the environment can inhale the bacteria. Persons who have close, frequent contact with an infected person are at risk. TB is more likely to occur on close crowded areas such as inner-city neighborhoods. Persons with HIV infection are also at risk. Sometimes bacteria can cause an infection many years down the line. The person may not have symptoms at first. The disease is found when routine chest x-rays are done or when a TB skin test is required.

Reliable Health Care Services, LLC. TB CONT’D. Early signs and symptoms are tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, night sweats, and coughing. The cough is more frequent as the disease progresses. Sputum production also increases, and chest pain occurs. Treatment involves drugs for TB. Hospital care is not necessary. Persons with TB need to cover their noses and mouths with tissues when coughing or sneezing. Tissues are flushed down the toilet or placed in a paper bag and burned. Hand washing after contact with sputum is essential. Standard Precautions and Airborne Precautions are practiced. As you all know you are required to take a TB test every year, please keep them updated.

Reliable Health Care Services, LLC. Thank you for attending the OSHA In-service, make sure you have signed all necessary documents with management.