Healthcare Safety and Infection Control: OSHA, PPE, Fire Safety, and Injury Prevention

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

Healthcare standard that protects workers from blood, body fluids, sharps exposure.

Employer Responsibilities

Provide PPE (correct sizes) at no cost, provide Hepatitis B vaccine to at-risk employees, maintain sharps containers and injury logs, offer safer devices (retractable needles, etc.).

Using PPE Correctly

Wear PPE when exposure to body fluids is possible, remove and dispose of PPE properly, wash hands immediately afterward.

When Gloves Are Not Necessary

Gloves are only needed if there's a risk of contact with blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, or broken skin.

Fire Safety

Fire needs: Oxygen (in air) + Fuel (anything that burns) + Heat (sparks/matches/flames). If any one is removed, fire stops.

Major cause of fires

Carelessness with smoking and matches.

Fire extinguishers — classes

Class A: combustibles (paper, cloth, plastic, wood), Class B: flammable liquids (gasoline, paint, grease, cooking fat), Class C: electrical (fuse boxes, wiring, outlets), Class D: combustible metals.

Fire emergency plan: RACE

Rescue in immediate danger, Activate alarm, Confine (close doors), Extinguish (if trained and able).

When extinguishing a fire, remember to PASS

P - Pull the pin to unlock the extinguisher. A - Aim low, at the base of the fire. S - Squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent. S - Sweep side to side across the base of the fire until it goes out.

Body Mechanics

Correct muscle use makes lifting/pulling/pushing easier, prevents fatigue/strain, and reduces injury risk.

Core rules of Body Mechanics

Broad base of support (feet hip/shoulder-width apart), bend at hips and knees when lifting heavy things, carry loads close to your body, avoid twisting the spine repeatedly, push rather than pull when possible.

Neutral spine

Maintain a neutral spine when bending and lifting.

Infection control

Principles of infection control.

Transmission of infection

Infection spreads when pathogens move from one person to another.

Preventing transmission

Preventing transmission protects patients and healthcare workers.

Chain of infection

Breaking the chain of infection stops disease.

Hepatitis B

Spread through blood and body fluids, affects the liver, vaccine available.

Hepatitis C

Spread through blood, no vaccine, can cause liver damage.

HIV/AIDS

Weakens the immune system, no cure or vaccine.

Sharps safety

Use a sharps container.

Sharps handling

Pass sharps handle-first OR place it on a clean surface for transfer.

Sharps container disposal

Dispose of container when it is three-quarters full.

Examples of sharps

Examples: needles, scalpels, broken glass.

Reporting sharps injuries

Report sharps injuries immediately.

Antisepsis

Slows or kills pathogens on skin (alcohol, hydrogen peroxide).

Disinfection

Kills pathogens on surfaces but not spores (bleach, wipes).

Sterilization

Destroys all microorganisms including spores (autoclave, radiation).

Sterilization of instruments

Instruments can be sterilized.

Disinfection of objects

Objects and surfaces can be disinfected but not sterilized.

Skin treatment

Skin cannot be sterilized or disinfected, only antiseptics are used.

Handwashing

Most important aseptic technique and single most effective method of infection control.

Handwashing timing

When: before and after patient contact, before and after wearing gloves, after bathroom use, coughing, sneezing, or anytime hands are visibly contaminated.

Handwashing technique

How: warm water and soap, rub with friction at least 20 seconds, clean nails and between fingers, fingertips pointed down, dry with paper towel.

Alcohol-based rubs

Alcohol-based rubs can be used, but wash with soap and water after 6-10 uses.

Standard Precautions

Standard Precautions = treating all blood and body fluids as infectious.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Wear gloves, gowns, masks, eye protection when appropriate.

PPE provision

PPE is provided by the employer under OSHA.

Examples of body fluids

Examples of body fluids: blood, saliva, sputum, urine, feces, vomit.

Transmission-based precautions

Used in addition to standard precautions for specific diseases.

Airborne precautions

Protects against tiny particles that stay in the air (TB, measles, chickenpox, shingles), requires N95 or higher respirator, negative-pressure room.

Droplet precautions

Protects against larger droplets spread by coughing, sneezing, talking (influenza, meningitis, COVID-19), wear surgical mask within 3-6 feet, gown and gloves if close contact likely.

Contact precautions

Protects against germs spread by direct touch or surfaces (scabies, conjunctivitis, MRSA).

PPE

Includes gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection.

Levels of asepsis

Antisepsis (skin), disinfection (objects), sterilization (instruments).

Causes of workplace violence

High-stress environments (ER, psychiatric units), patients under drugs or alcohol, overcrowding, short staffing, conflicts or poor communication.

Warning signs of escalation

Raised voice, threatening language, clenched fists, pacing, glaring, refusal to follow directions, increasing anger.

Strategies to reduce violence

Stay calm, use a respectful tone, practice active listening, follow facility policies, attend training, report threats or abuse immediately, keep exits clear, maintain lighting, use security measures.

If injured at work

Stop activity and get to safety, report injury to supervisor immediately, seek medical attention, complete incident report per policy.

OSHA involvement

Always report internally first, file OSHA complaint if unsafe conditions persist uncorrected, employers must report serious cases (hospitalization, amputation, death).

General injury reporting

Medical help, report, document.

Sharps injury reporting

Wash area, report immediately, seek testing/treatment, record in sharps log.

Key points on violence

Violence has risk factors and warning signs.

Reducing risk of violence

Use communication, policy, and security measures.

Reporting injuries

Report all injuries immediately.

Sharps injuries

Require extra steps (testing and sharps log).

OSHA role

Mainly employer's responsibility; employees act if hazards not fixed.