Chapter 3: Personal Health and Regulatory Standards

although it can be offensive, the dead human body poses little risk of what?

transmitting a communicable disease to the observer

the highest exposure to communicable disease are those with…

direct contact with the body

A 1991 study found that what percentage of embalmers had contracted a communicable disease?

17%

What was the most frequent route of contracting communicable disease, according to the embalmers interviewed?

to skin by blood

Hepatitis B, Staphylococcal and other skin infections, pulmonary and skin tuberculosis

among frequently reported disease

Can cause severe or fatal diarrhea. Found as spores in feces and contaminated diapers and gowns

Clostridium difficile

Hospital-borne microbe that can infect the urinary tract, gut, and bloodstream

Klebsiella pneumoniae

Resistant to antibiotics, found in spinal fluid. Soilborne, accesses the body via traumatic injury

Acinetobacter baumannii

Found in the skin and nose, blood and urine, and exudates from an infected site. Spread by physical contact with infected site or objects.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Found in open wounds and feces, invasive devices.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE)

Similar to VRE

Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA)

Found in open wounds of patients with chronic diabetes and kidney disease

Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA)

Can cause fatal lower-respiratory infections

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

fatal disease caused by a prion, a pathogenic agent that is nearly impossible to destroy. Concentrated in cerebrospinal fluid

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)

Causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Spread through direct contact with contaminated body fluids

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Inflammation of the liver, often from viral infection. Most, such as Hepatitis B, are bloodborne. There is a vaccine for Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis

Most often affects the respiratory system but can infect any body area

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

What should a female embalmer if she find out she is pregnant?

consult her physician and follow instruction given

The law is consider to be the [ ] of a community

minimum ethic

Many actions are considered [ ] but not [ ]

wrong; criminal

Embalming serves a public health interest, embalmers are trusted with something precious (reverent care and proper behavior expected), and skill is required

reasons for professional licensure

In most states, the practice of embalming is regulated by:

the Board of Health or Bureau of Vital Statistics and the State Board of Examiners

Take vital statistic information from the family via the funeral director, to produce the official Death Certificate.

The Board of Health or Bureau of Vital Statistics

In Texas this is the Texas Funeral Service Commission. Administrative agencies such as this interpret and enforce the laws written by the state legislature

The State Board of Examiners

Who issues Burial Transit Permits and Cremation Permits?

the coroner or medical examiner

made a feeble attempt to provide recommendations for handling COVID cases.

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

hazardous waste disposal

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

funeral rule

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

General Duty Clause, Hazard Communication Standard, Formaldehyde Rule, & Bloodborne Pathogen Rule

Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)

prior authorization for embalming from next of kin or authorized person, state or local law requires it, & due diligence is performed and the family cannot be reached but permission is obtained

“Each employer shall furnish to each employee employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to the employee.” & “Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to this Act which are applicable to the employee’s own actions and conduct.”

OSHA general duty clause

the embalmer has a right to know about any communicable disease that the deceased is confirmed to have

Right-to-Know laws

Determine if employees have occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens & Develop a written Exposure Control Plan

Bloodborne Pathogen Standard

Must be accessible to employees, must be updated once per year, & must include documentation (Exposure determination, Methods of Compliance, Hepatitis B vaccination and declination records, recods of post-exposure evaluation and follow-up, & hazard communication

Exposure Control Plan

Employer must list all job titles or classifications which have exposure, must also identify employees who have “some” occupational exposure, employers must list the duties of each that involve exposure, and when determining exposure risk, you do not factor in the use of personal protective equipment

Exposure Determination