California is first to adopt aerosol disease standard
California has become the first state to adopt an aerosol transmissible disease standard that requires hospitals to conduct a risk assessment, maintain an exposure control plan, and provide annual training to employees.
Specific requirements differ based on the employees' potential for exposure, but respiratory protection (an N95 or greater) would be required for employees caring for patients with a novel or unknown pathogen. It require the use of powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) with most high hazard procedures, such as bronchoscopy and sputum induction, unless this use would interfere with patient care. It would allow biannual fit-testing for some health care workers. The standard becomes effective in July.
The Center for Occupational & Environmental Health at the University of California Berkeley is offering a seminar on the new standard, July 27-28, 2009. More information is available at www.coehce.org/suminst/suminst.htm.
California has become the first state to adopt an aerosol transmissible disease standard that requires hospitals to conduct a risk assessment, maintain an exposure control plan, and provide annual training to employees.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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