Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
In late August 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it was investigating an outbreak of Salmonella infections in 13 states that had sickened 37 people and led to 16 hospitalizations. The culprit? It was just a little thing: small turtles—those with shells less than 4 inches long—sold illegally by street […]
Laboratory workers who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals can protect themselves by isolating those chemicals inside a chemical fume hood. Workers exposed to biological agents must also take steps to isolate themselves from infectious hazards with a slightly different type of protective enclosure: a biological safety cabinet (BSC).
Laboratories are a unique environment when it comes to chemical hazards. Laboratory workers use a broad variety of chemicals, in relatively small quantities, and in combinations and bench-scale procedures that may be unlike anything found in a larger-scale operation. But that doesn’t mean that their chemical exposures are insignificant. In fact, lab workers may be […]
The International Safety Center (ISC) has released new surveillance data that tracks employee incident reports of needlestick injuries and blood and body fluid exposures.
An online survey found that more than a quarter of dental practices did not have a written bloodborne pathogens (BBP) control plan as required by OSHA. The survey was conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention, a dental industry organization. Findings were published […]
Laboratories need EHS management systems, just like any business does. To help them create a comprehensive system that works for a lab, the National Research Council (U.S.) Committee on Prudent Practices in the Laboratory publication has provided guidance in its “Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Management of Chemical Hazards.”
When it comes to environmental health and safety management systems, larger organizations have a definite advantage in budget and manpower. But sometimes, you need an EHS management system that works on a somewhat smaller scale. Laboratories, for example, might need a “laboratory scaled” system.
Hospitals, doctors’ offices, and other healthcare employers are required to track sharps incidents and blood and body fluid exposures. New software modules from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) make it easier to analyze this essential data and use it to plan and monitor interventions.
Results of a recently released survey of healthcare workers who provide anesthesia care show that many are not following recommended practices when administering anesthetics.
Results of a recently released survey of healthcare workers who provide anesthesia care show that many are not following recommended practices when administering anesthetics. Healthcare employers should review the survey and buck up their safety programs where they think training for their employees who administer anesthetics is lacking.