Hospital Employee Health – July 1, 2016
July 1, 2016
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NIOSH: Healthcare Workers Still Face Surgical Smoke Hazards
A study in press for publication by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health reports that, despite longstanding hazard warnings, healthcare workers are still frequently exposed to toxic smoke and plumes created by burning tissue during laser surgery and electrosurgery.
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OSHA: Surgical Smoke ‘Hazardous,’ but HCWs Must Report to Stir Action
A common theme in the call to protect healthcare workers from surgical smoke is the lack of enforcement by OSHA.
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NIOSH Emphasizing Hazards of Oncology Drugs
Despite longstanding guidelines on the hazards of antineoplastic drugs used primarily in chemotherapy, public health officials are concerned that healthcare workers are still inadequately protected from these known or suspected carcinogens.
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USP Issues New Hazardous Drug Standard
The United States Pharmacopeial Convention published a new standard on hazardous drugs in healthcare this year, establishing a more than two-year moratorium to allow time for adoption by healthcare facilities.
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More Than 40% of HCWs Report to Work with Flu-like Illness
In findings that further underscore the “presenteeism” phenomenon, investigators found that more than 40% of healthcare workers with influenza-like illness reported to work, putting patients and co-workers at risk of infection.
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Healthcare workers infected, transmit Group A Strep
A large and persistent outbreak of Group A Streptococcus in a nursing home was spread in part by infected and colonized healthcare workers, underscoring the importance of reporting symptoms, seeking treatment, practicing rigorous infection control, and not working sick.
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NIOSH warns of counterfeit N95s
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health is alerting employee health professionals about a counterfeit N95 respirator on the market.
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NIOSH injury data will be unveiled at AOHP conference
NIOSH will hold a “town hall” meeting to answer questions about healthcare worker injuries as part of the annual meeting of the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare in Myrtle Beach, SC, Sept. 7-10, 2016.