OSHA Compliance Requirements

for Healthcare Industry

Rules under OSHA make it mandatory for employers

to ensure that the workplace is reasonably free of
health and safety hazards. Compliance with OSHA
involves communicating properly with workers on
health and safety norms and regulations. This will not
only help prevent workplace fatalities, but will also
help reduce workers' compensation and other insurance
costs.

Workers in the healthcare industry, whether it be

hospitals, medical centers, physicians offices or
clinics, are exposed to hazards associated with
laboratories, blood-borne pathogens, potential
chemical and drug exposures, radioactive material and
x-rays.
The following are some key OSHA standards that
apply to healthcare employers:

Blood-borne Pathogen Standards

Blood-borne Pathogen Standards are designed to
protect employees against the health hazards caused
by blood-borne pathogens. These pathogens include
the hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV)
and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Blood-borne pathogens can enter ones body by an

accidental injury by way of a sharp object such as a
needle, broken glass, scalpel or anything that can
pierce or cut the skin.

To reduce such risks, the Needlestick Safety and

Prevention Act was enacted in November 2000. The
law requires employers to provide safer needlesticks
that eliminate or minimize exposure to blood-borne
pathogens.
Employers should record percutaneous injuries from
contaminated sharps. Information must be collected
about the injury and the type of device involved.
Blood-borne pathogens posters should be displayed at
the worksite for healthcare workers.

Ionizing Radiation Standard

Ionizing Radiation Standard applies to healthcare
facilities, research institutions, nuclear weapon
production facilities, nuclear reactor and allied support
facilities and various manufacturing settings where
employees are likely to be exposed to radiation from
portable and fixed X-ray machines.
The law requires employers to provide designated
restricted areas to limit employees' exposure to
radiation. Employers should also make sure that
employees working in designated areas wear personal
radiation monitors. The areas exposed to radiation and
the equipment should be labeled with caution signs.

Employers in thehealthcare industry must be in

compliance with OSHA requirements. This will help
prevent or reduce workplace hazards.
To know which OSHA requirements to comply with,
take help of a compliance services company. They will
take care of the compliance issues and suggest the
posters applicable to your business.

Labor Law Center provides labor law poster &

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