AHA asks CMS to keep some 1135 waivers to help hospitals regain footing

The American Hospital Association is pushing for CMS to continue some COVID-19-related 1135 waivers...

AIHA voices concerns about COVID-19 ETS

On July 27, AIHA (formerly the American Industrial Hygiene Association) revealed concerns about the...

CMS issues maternal morbidity and COVID-19 worker vaccination reporting requirements

CMS is adding a maternal morbidity quality measure as well as a reporting requirement on COVID-19...

Making movies on location…

Mac's Safety Space:  I suspect that each of you make what use you can of the “regularly scheduled” activities like fire drills, surveillance rounds, tracers, etc., to be able to get face time with folks,

Keyes Q&A: Door decorations, storage height, fire drills, surgery suites

Q: I understand the Life Safety Code® (LSC) decoration rule, but in the long-term care facility that I manage, I find many combustible decorations mounted on the corridor doors to the resident rooms. Something about this just doesn’t seem right to me. Your thoughts?

PHE extended but surveys pushing forward, as is OSHA

The public health emergency (PHE) declaration on COVID-19 has been extended another 90 days, through at least October 18. That said, The Joint Commission (TJC) and others are pushing forward with surveys and new requirements.

Designed for safety: Safety showers and floods

Whenever Jacob, a histology lab employee, poured waste chemicals into the large barrel in the lab’s central accumulation area, he always wore a face shield as well as a lab coat and gloves. He felt he was prepared because he knew this task had a high risk of splashing and potential chemical exposure. One day, when Jacob began to tip the waste jug toward the barrel, it slipped out of his hands and bounced against the funnel, splashing a mixture of xylene and other chemicals onto his shoulders and head. Although Jacob’s eyes were protected, he knew enough chemical had splashed onto his body that he needed to use the department’s emergency shower.

SIGN UP | FORWARD

The Complete Guide to Laboratory Safety, Fifth Edition, consolidates regulations from all relevant agencies, including OSHA, The Joint Commission, CAP, CLSI, DOT, and state health departments. This book also offers customizable policies, procedures, and checklists to avoid costly fines and enhance your compliance program.

The newest edition of this proven guide includes a brand-new chapter on laboratory safety culture, plus new content on:

• The hierarchy of controls
• The four biosafety lab levels and lab coats 
• Reporting lab injuries 
• Lab coat cleaning, comfort, and materials 
• Bloodborne pathogen training
• Hazardous waste management
• The generator improvement rule 
• The EPA hazardous waste pharmaceutical rule
• And more!

In stores now!

Brian Ward
Editor
bward@hcpro.com


HCPro
35 Village Road, Suite 200
Middleton, MA 01949
800-650-6787
http://www.hcpro.com

Sign up for our monthly newsletters, and get an article each week!

Healthcare Life Safety Compliance

This award-winning monthly resource simplifies confusing code references so you can better protect your facility. You need Healthcare Life Safety Compliance to keep you up to date on the latest changes to the Life Safety Code (LSC), as well as The Joint Commissions Life Safety standards, NFPA codes, and related fire protection provisions to ensure the safety of patients, visitors, and employees.

Hospital Safety Leader

With a Hospital Safety Center membership, you?ll gain complete access to HSL, a16-page monthly publication that provides safety professionals with crucial information and clear-cut guidance on how to improve and ensure hospital safety.

Medical Environment Update

Keeping safety professionals up to speed with the always-changing policies of OSHA, CDC, EPA, and other healthcare regulatory agencies. Discover workplace health and safety tips written with facilities like yours in mind.