Question

Describe and identify appropriate safety precautions

Answer 1

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency representing the United States Department of Labour. The OSHA was passed in 1970, which is aimed at ensuring safety at the workplace. All the employees in a healthcare unit must receive OSHA training. If not, they must be provided with a copy of the regulatory text with the explanation of the OSHA standards.

The major areas included in the OSHA compliance guidelines are,

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) or barrier protection devices
• Environment protection
• Vaccination to prevent the hepatitis B infection
• Housekeeping controls
• Follow-up after exposure

Thus, OSHA provides safety at the workplace both by making the employees know about the possible hazards and also by providing the preventing measures.

The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are the barriers and respirators used to protect the body and clothing from contact with the infectious agents. The four examples of PPE include,

1. Goggles – Must be worn if the procedures generate splashes of blood or any other body fluids or excretions.
2. Face shields – Protect the non-intact skin of the face from the droplets or spatters. The mucous membranes of the nose and mouth can be protected from the droplets by the masks
3. Fluid-resistant gowns – Protect the full body and prevent the contaminants (body fluids or spills) from contaminating the skin or clothing.
4. Masks and respirators – They prevent the entry of pathogens through the inhalation route. The efficiency of filters used in these PPEs is set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and should be certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). They are called N95 masks or respirators (indicates that they can filter at least 95% of airborne particles).

The other examples of PPE includes, aprons, and gloves.