Health & Medical Health News & Knowledge

OSHA Medical: Taking Care of Employees Health at Workplace

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA medical regulations must be applied at all healthcare facilities including the hospitals, dental offices, birthing centers, clinics, out-patient surgery centers, and nursing homes. There are several health issues that are associated with the medical facilities, and OSHA standards are prepared to safeguard the health of the medical professionals and common man who are open to various health risks including biological risks, anesthetic gas exposures, respiratory hazards, blood borne pathogens, ergonomic laser risks, lab risks, possible drug and chemical exposures, and the x-ray hazards.  

The exposure to the potential chemicals used in the healthcare laboratories, such as glutaraldehyde, par acetic acid, ethylene oxide, and formaldehyde, can also be unsafe. Apart from the medical facilities, there are also several other industries that have health and safety risks associated with them. Other sectors such as food service, housekeeping, medical equipment maintenance, laundry, grounds maintenance, and mechanical maintenance, also need to comply with the standard OSHA medical regulations.

OSHA's medical services and the first aid regulation refer to the American National Standard. It includes details of the least requirements of first aid kits for the workplaces. As per the regulations, the first aid kit should be sufficient enough for the small facilities. However, each employer should take the responsibility to determine whether any supplementary equipments and supplies are required. You must consider the diverse kinds of hazards that may possibly take place at your workplace, and make certain that your first-aid kit contains all the essential items. Some of the vital workplace tips are as follows:

•    Store the first aid box in an easily reachable site that all workers can access

•    You must store the over-the-counter drugs with its appropriate wrapping.

•    Check the kits frequently to ensure that the items placed in the box are adequate, or if it needs to be updated to shun any kind of unplanned hazards.

•    OSHA medical's first-aid program recommends employers to consider an external defibrillator when picking the first aid equipments and supplies.

•    Ensure that you frequently examine the kits to confiscate any expired drugs or add something that is required.

•    The over-the-counter drugs must not include any such element that is known to cause sleepiness.

As per OSHA medical's regulations, the employers must have medical experts available for providing consultation and advice to the workers. In a circumstance when there are no proper healthcare facilities or clinics available close to the place of work, any one or more workers should be trained to supply immediate first aid service to the wounded worker. Those who are selected to provide first aid should undergo a training program and earn a certificate provided by the American Red Cross.

Given the fact that OSHA medical regulations stress on providing hands-on skills and training to the workers, an online program would not suffice the requirement. To ensure that the work places are safer, the selected candidates should undergo proper training and certification. This is essential to safeguard the health of the employees at the place of work.


Leave a reply