Why Wear Personal Protective Equipment?

Did you know you could have infectious microorganisms in your blood?
These pathogens are:  to name a few, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency (HIV), and one we do not want to even think about:  Ebola.

We need to pay attention when we are working around any kind of needles and sharps. We must be careful always keeping our eyes on the object we are working with.  We can encounter pathogens mostly at work, but also at home.  If you are taking someone’s blood, or testing someone for sugar levels, this involves blood that can spill, splash, or drip onto your skin.  You must at that point wash the area with lots of soap and water.  Proper hand washing includes washing all the way up and including the wrist, and washing for at least 20 seconds.

Even when we administer First Aid, maybe to a child, we still need to be careful with spilled blood.  It is also wise not to eat and or drink in any area where blood or other potentially infectious materials are.  Blood is not the only liquid that we need to concern ourselves with.  Any and all body fluids, unfixed human tissues, all infected materials, can expose us to infectious microorganisms.  Once these microorganism’s enter into our body through any portal we are then exposed. 

If you are working in any health care occupation (doctors, nurses, nursing assistant, or even dentists and dental hygienists), as well as housekeeping personnel in those facilities, you are at a higher risk of exposure to blood borne pathogens. We need to be cautious when working with blood, or other bodily fluids. If you are punctured by a sharp object (needles, broken glass, metal shavings, etc.), or get blood or any bodily fluid in your eyes, nose, mouth, or on any broken skin, you are possibly exposed.  Then, if you feel you have been exposed, you should seek immediate medical attention.  

We do have methods to protect ourselves from that exposure. That is why OSHA requires those with a higher risk of exposure to wear personal protective equipment, otherwise known as PPE.

So what is PPE and what does it consist of? 
Personal Protective Equipment refers to what you should be wearing to protect yourself from pathogens. It can be non-latex gloves, eye protective goggles, face shields, aprons, or any other clothing that covers your person, keeping blood from splashing onto your skin or mucous glands, such as your eyes, nose or mouth.

The Protective Equipment is considered appropriate if it protects all areas that might be exposed. It is appropriate only if it does not permit blood or other potentially infectious materials to pass through or reach the person’s skin, eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes under normal conditions of use, and for the duration of time that the protective equipment will be used.  Remember, gloves and face masks are disposable.  Clinic jackets can be laundered.  Eyewear protection can be decontaminated. 

If you think your job is unsafe or if you have questions or concerns, you can contact OSHA at 1-800-321-6742.  Your contact will be kept confidential. 

You may find this and further information needed at www.osha.gov.

Are you ready for OSHA with your MSDS?

So you have opened your new business?  Do you have everything you need to cover your bases with OSHA, federal and local laws, and compliance standards?

“Yeah, it was a pain but all my posters have been put up as required.  Even the safety ones that aren’t required.”

I’m still pretty sure you missed one thing that most all companies overlook, unless they are a chemical plant.

“Ok wise guy, if you don’t think I have it, test me, and I’ll prove you wrong.”

Do you have all of your SDS and your hazardous communication policy in a book for review, if someone gets hurt on the job?

“SDS?  What is that? I’ve never heard of that term.”

With an answer like that, you aren’t quite as ready as you thought for OSHA requirements.  The SDS is a new name to an old term-MSDS.  MSDS, if you don’t remember, stood for Material Safety Data Sheets, but was recently changed to SDS or Safety Data Sheets.  The change was made, because there were too many variables being used to create the MSDS. So, OSHA adopted the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) and made a friendlier format for the sheets. 

“Oh, those. I don’t need those as we only use store bought chemicals on premises, and nothing like what a hospital uses.”

Well during a recent review of the new OSHA guidelines, we discovered that statement is partially true.  What we found was, if your employees use a chemical product, a disinfecting spray for example, like they would at home and only spraying it occasionally, as needed, then you can probably get away without an SDS on it. But, if they spray it continually to clean and disinfect numerous surfaces throughout the day, then you would want the SDS on hand.  The old saying, “better be safe than sorry,” comes to mind when putting together a book for your use as there is no penalty for having one if you don’t need it.

“Ok, we use this one disinfectant cleaning agent on all of the equipment every time it’s used by anyone.  Guess we better get on that SDS book as soon as we can.  But, let’s say we get busy, and forget to get it done right away, what happens?

Oh, you really don’t want to delay getting it done. If OSHA pays a surprise visit to your office, and you don’t have the SDS on hand when they think you should, you could face some really hefty fines and penalties.  OSHA requires every company to have a Hazardous Communication Policy, to include a plan outlining what has to be done in case of emergency situations, which might include a spill of the hazardous chemical. The reason for the SDS is that it explains what a chemical does, how to store it, what to store it in, and the temperatures it should be kept. It also explains what to do, if you are exposed to a chemical either by ingesting, breathing, or having it on your skin, or in your eyes. The SDS provides the chemical’s make up, the testing parameters that has gone into making it, and whether it is toxic to the environment, inside or outside.  The sheets also give instructions as to the combustibility, or if water should be used to extinguish a fire involving that chemical. With a great many chemicals, water is the worst thing to use to put out the fire. You should also have an Emergency Action Policy that would inform an individual(s) on evacuation plans, including where to meet the rest of the team, and who to contact in case of an emergency. Many small business owners are not aware of these requirements.

“Wow, I had no idea. Sounds like an important tool, and something I should get straight to work on. I don’t want to get caught without it, and I do worry about my employee’s safety.”

Pulmonary function testing

Mark:  My doctor is crazy.

Barbara: Why do you say that? I’ve always found him to be great.

Mark: Well he told me it was time to do a pulmonary function test. 

Barbara: Yeah, I’ve done it before. You breathe into a tube for them to find out your breathing capacity.

Mark: Yeah, that’s what he told me. And when I told him that I just did one, he asked me the name of the doctor who did it. I told him it wasn’t a doctor, but the police.

Barbara: The police don’t do pulmonary function tests.

Mark: Yes, they do.  They had me do one when they pulled me over after leaving the bar. And that is the same look the doctor gave me when I told him the same thing.

“So what exactly is a pulmonary function test?  I’ve never had to have one, but I’ve heard some people have to do them for their jobs.”

Pulmonary function tests, also called PFTs, are basically what they sound like; they test the function of your lungs (pulmonary system).  People with weakened lungs, like those with asthma or emphysema, or smokers have to have regular monitoring of their lungs to help the doctors detect changes.  If you have heard of people doing them for jobs, it’s the same concept, except it’s also to help ensure that the person doing the testing is capable of wearing respirators. We see how much air your lungs can expel within one second, and then how much air can be expended until your lungs are almost completely empty. This is compared to norms of the same age, height, weight and ethnicity.

“Why would someone need a pulmonary function test, if they have to wear a respirator?”

Have you ever worn even just a basic face mask for simple jobs at home, or even the paper ones a doctor typically wears in the hospital?  If you have done so, did you notice that it’s just slightly harder to breathe with it on that without it?  Respirators work by filtering the air that passes through the filters, with no other air coming through. The process of filtering makes a slight change in how much air you receive, so you work a bit harder to get all of the air you need.  People with weakened lungs already work harder than people with normal lung function, so to make sure that you have the lung function necessary to wear the device, a PFT would be conducted to make sure that you can handle the lower air volume. If your lungs are already restricted enough to not pass the PFT, your employer cannot take the responsibility of putting you into a respirator. Lack of enough air can cause a heart attack.

“What does a PFT entail?  Are there any special guidelines I have to follow before getting one done?”

The PFT will be completed by a specially trained respiratory therapist or technician in their office.  What the technician will do is ask you a series of questions before you begin the test. Those questions include if you have smoked in the last hour, have you had any recent surgeries, are you being treated for high blood pressure, and if you have anything in your mouth like piercings or dentures.  So there are some things you should avoid before having a PFT; eating a heavy meal (you can eat something, but don’t overstuff yourself), do not smoke or do serious exercising (waking a few blocks is ok, but don’t run 2 miles) for 6 hours before the test, avoid food or drinks that are caffeinated (caffeine can skew the test results), wear loose fitting clothing to allow your body room for that extra deep breath, and take all piercings and gum out of your mouth before the test.  If you have dentures, you can still wear them, but only if they are tight fitting in your mouth.

“Wow! So many requirements for one test.  What if I have medications I have to take?”

You can still take your medications. Just be sure to let the technician know that you are, so they can make sure they don’t interfere with the test results.

“Ok, that’s good to know.  But, I have also heard from my buddy he passed out when he did his.  Is that normal?”

Passing out (fainting) or a feeling of being lightheaded is a slight risk for anyone doing a PFT, but only because you have to inhale and exhale rapidly (think of someone who is hyperventilating). The technician will take precautions to prevent you from falling, especially if you are standing during the test. This is the reason it is recommended to remain seated during the test. If light-headedness occurs, it is up to you to let the technician know.  And if you have had a recent heart attack, heart disease, recent eye, chest, or abdominal surgery (within the last 3 months), or any respiratory infections you have to let the technician know before the test begins, because there are more risks involved with people with those issues. You may be referred to your family doctor for greater support during the test.

“Well that’s good know, at least I now know that I’ll be ok, if I ever have to take one of those tests.“

Yes, a PFT is really an easy test to take. It can also help your doctor monitor you, if you have any lung issues, and can help determine if you are able to wear respirators safely on a job.  If ever find out you have to take a PFT, present any questions to the technician. They will do their best to answer your questions, and try to make you feel as comfortable as possible for the test.