The safetyDRs Compliance Blog

World TB Day --- March 24, 2009

2009-03-22T16:19:00.005-05:00

World TB Day is observed each year on March 24 to commemorate the datein 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). Worldwide,TB remains one of the leading causes of death from infectious disease. An estimated 2 billion persons are infected with M. tuberculosis (1).

In 2006, approximately 9.2 million persons became ill from TB, and 1.7 million died from the disease (1). World TB Day provides anopportunity for TB programs, nongovernmental organizations, and other partners to describe problems and solutions related to the TB pandemic and to support worldwide TB control efforts. The U.S. theme for this year's observance is Partnerships for TB Elimination.

Additional information about World TB Day and CDC TB- elimination activities is available at http://www.cdc.gov/tb/worldtbday.

ref. MMWR March 20, 2009 / 58(10);249

OSHA Resources - Pandemic Influenza

2009-03-07T18:08:00.002-05:00

A new Safety and Health Topics Web page on pandemic influenza has been posted to OSHA's Web site. The page is a central repository for OSHA information and resources on helping workplaces prepare for a pandemic. One of the newest resources is a link to a Web page featuring answers to the most frequently asked questions about OSHA's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers.

Put You Hands Together - Handwashing Video

2009-02-28T19:37:00.006-05:00

Scientists estimate that people are not washing their hands often or well enough and may transmit up to 80% of all infections by their hands. From doorknobs to animals to food, harmful germs can live on almost everything. Handwashing may be your single most important act to help stop the spread of infection and stay healthy.

Check out this great Video from the CDC-
Put Your Hands Together

www.cdc.gov/CDCTV/HandsTogether/

Source: National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases (NCPDCID) and National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (NCZVED) Running Time: (3:38)

Hepatitis B Vaccination Declination Form

2009-02-20T19:02:00.002-05:00

Q. If an employee who handles blood as part of their job is offered the hepatitis B vaccine, but refuses it... what paper work is required?

A. Below is an example of a declination statement which should be signed/dated by the employee and kept on file in the office.

“ I understand that due to my occupational exposure to blood and/or other potentially infectious body fluids, I may be at risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. I have been given the opportunity to be vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine at no cost to myself. However, I decline the hepatitis B vaccine at this time. I understand that by declining this vaccine, I continue to be at risk of acquiring hepatitis B which is a serious disease. If in the future I continue to have occupational exposure to blood and/or other potentially infectious body fluids and I want to be vaccinated with the hepatitis B vaccine, I can receive the vaccination at no cost to me.”

2009-02-08T18:33:00.003-05:00

safetyDRs is pleased to announce new online continuing education courses for dental professionals administered by the Academy of Dental Learning, an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. A certificate of completion (including CE Credits earned) may be downloaded online.

These online courses offer busy dentists and other dental professionals the opportunity to stay current in their practice and obtain required CE Credits. Featured courses include:

- OSHA/Bloodborne Pathogens Standard Required Annual Review for Dental Office

- OSHA: Hazard Communication Standard

- Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office

The complete catalog of continuing education courses may be viewed at: http://www.safetydrs.com/catalog.php

HHS Issues Action Plan To Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections

2009-01-13T10:27:00.005-05:00

"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled a plan that establishes a set of five-year national prevention targets to reduce and possibly eliminate health care-associated infections (HAIs). Health care-associated infections are infections that patients acquire while undergoing medical treatment or surgical procedures. These infections are largely preventable.

In addition to the tremendous toll on human life, the financial burden attributed to these infections is staggering. HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 1.7 million HAIs occurred in U.S. hospitals in 2002 and were associated with 99,000 deaths. CDC also estimates that HAIs add as much as $20 billion to health care costs each year.

HHS intends to update the plan in response to public input and new recommendations for infection prevention. The plan, and instructions for submitting comments on the plan, can be found online at http://www.hhs.gov/ophs"

Ref. Medical News Today (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com)

2009 Adult Immunization Schedule

2009-01-11T13:15:00.004-05:00

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) annually reviews the recommended Adult Immunization Schedule to ensure that the schedule reflects current recommendations for the licensed vaccines. In October 2008, ACIP approved the Adult Immunization Schedule for 2009. No new vaccines were added to the schedule; however, several indications were added to the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine footnote, clarifications were made to the footnotes for human papillomavirus, varicella, and meningococcal vaccines, and schedule information was added to the hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine footnotes.

Additional information is available as follows: schedule (in English and Spanish) at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/adult-schedule.htm; adult vaccination at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/default.htm; ACIP statements for specific vaccines at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccine/pubs/acip-list.htm; and reporting adverse events at http://www.vaers.hhs.gov or by telephone, 800-822-7967.

Ref. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended adult immunization schedule---United States, 2009. MMWR 2008;57(53).

Evidence-Based Strategies to Fight Infection

2008-10-12T10:37:00.003-05:00

The AHA and four other health care organizations today released on Oct. 8 a compedium of strategies to help prevent the most dangerous infections that hospitals face. Distilled from the latest guidelines and scientific evidence, the compendium identifies what hospitals should be doing, and how, to prevent staph and C. difficile infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, bloodstream infections caused by central-line catheters, and urinary tract and surgical site infections.

“As of today, the nation’s infection control team has a common ‘play book’ − one that harnesses the latest authoritative information in a clear and concise manner for everyone’s benefit …especially the patient,” said AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock at a Washington, DC, press event. In addition to the AHA, the partnership includes the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, and The Joint Commission.

The full text of The Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals is available here.

ref. AHANews.com

Nashua, NH Dental Office Faces $75k OSHA fine

2008-09-27T09:55:00.005-05:00

"Whopper of a fine!

OSHA cites Allcare Dental Nashua office for allegedly violating occupational health standards after an employee suffered a needlestick injury. The office faces $76,500 in proposed fines.
The OSHA inspection, conducted by OSHA's Concord area office, found that the Allcare office did not provide the injured employee with no-cost, post-exposure medical evaluation and follow-up and did not have the blood of the source individual tested, as required under OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard.

Although the alleged needle stick incident took place back in November 2007, OSHA did not become aware of it until about 31 1/2 months later when they received a complaint. [So, where do you think that OSHA received a complaint from? It is important to follow guidelines to protect your healthcare workers for their sake and for the sake of your business!]

Allcare was cited with one willful citation, with a proposed $63,000 fine because the source individual's blood was not tested, although required. In addition six serious citations, with $13,500 in proposed fines, were issued for not providing the post-exposure evaluation and follow-up; not annually reviewing and updating the exposure control program; training deficiencies; and not using sharps with engineered sharps protection."

ref. International Sharps Injury Prevention Society Newsletter, Sept. 26, 2008

It is incredible that there are about 1 million needlestick and other sharps injuries that continue to occur each year among healthcare workers in the United States. This is unacceptable! Healthcare employers are obligated to provide a safe workplace for their employees and provide annual bloodborne pathogens training and implemention of sharps safety devices.

For information on how to comply with OSHA Standards and compliance to sharps safety, please contact safetyDRs, tel. (888) 669 - 8846, x703

Recommendations for 'Flu Control & Prevention

2008-08-11T11:08:00.001-05:00

MMWR
Recommendations and Reports
Volume 57, No. RR-7 August 08, 2008

PDF of this issue: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5707.pdf http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5707a1.htm?s_cid=rr5707a1_e

Prevention and Control of Influenza Recommendations of the AdvisoryCommittee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2008. This report updates the 2007 recommendations by CDC's AdvisoryCommittee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the use of influenza vaccine and antiviral agents (CDC. Prevention and control ofinfluenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP]. MMWR 2007;56[No. RR-6]). The 2008 recommendations include new and updated information.

Principal updates and changes include 1) a new recommendation that annual vaccination be administered to all children aged 5--18 years, beginning in the2008--09 influenza season, if feasible, but no later than the 2009--10 influenza season; 2) a recommendation that annual vaccination of all children aged 6 months through 4 years (59 months) continue to be aprimary focus of vaccination efforts because these children are athigher risk for influenza complications compared with older children;3) a new recommendation that either trivalent inactivated influenzavaccine or live, attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) be used when vaccinating healthy persons aged 2 through 49 years (the previous recommendation was to administer LAIV to person aged 5--49 years); 4) a recommendation that vaccines containing the 2008--09 trivalentvaccine virus strains A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like, A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like, and B/Florida/4/2006-like antigens be used; and, 5) new information on antiviral resistance among influenza viruses in the United States. Persons for whom vaccination is recommended are listed in boxes 1 and 2.

These recommendations also include a summary of safety data for U.S. licensed influenza vaccines.This report and other information are available at CDC's influenza website (http://www.cdc.gov/flu), including any updates or supplementsto these recommendations that might be required during the 2008--09influenza season. Vaccination and health-care providers should be alert to announcements of recommendation updates and should check the CDC influenza website periodically for additional information.

Emerging Infectious Disease (EID) Journal

2008-08-05T09:08:00.001-05:00

Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) journal provides recognition of new and re-emerging infections and understanding of factors involved in disease emergence, prevention, and elimination. It also represents the scientific communications component of CDC's efforts against the threat of emerging infections.

See the August 2008 issue of the EID journal at the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/index.htm

Mass Casualty Events

2008-08-05T09:02:00.003-05:00

Mass Casualty EventsRecommendations for Postexposure Interventions to Prevent Infection with Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and Tetanus in Persons Wounded During Bombings and Other Mass-Casualty Events - CDC - MMWR Recommendations and Reports - Aug 1

This report outlines recommendations for postexposure interventions to prevent infection with hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, or tetanus in persons wounded during bombings or other events resulting in mass casualties. Persons wounded during such events or in conjunction with the resulting emergency response might be exposed to blood, body fluids, or tissue from other injured persons and thus be at risk for bloodborne infections.

This report adapts existing general recommendations on the use of immunization and postexposure prophylaxis for tetanus and for occupational and nonoccupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens to the specific situation of a mass-casualty event. The recommendations contained in this report represent the consensus of U.S. federal public health officials and reflect the experience and input of public health officials at all levels of government and the acute injury response community. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5706a1.htm <http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5706a1.htm?s_cid=rr5706a1_e>

ref. CDC Updates for Clinicians: July 28-August 4, 2008

2008 Study of Nurses' Views on Workplace and Needlestick Injuries

2008-07-09T09:40:00.003-05:00

The 2008 Study of Nurses' Views on Workplace Safety and Needlestick Injuries, an independent survey of more than 700 U.S. nurses, sponsored by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and Inviro Medical Devices revealed that needlestick injuries and bloodborne infections remain concerns for nearly two-thirds (64%) of nurses. The research also highlights that safety concerns influence the decisions made by the vast majority of nurses (87%) about the type of nursing they do, and that nearly two-thirds of nurses (64%) have been accidentally stuck by a needle while working.

The study is sponsored by the American Nurses Association. Research results can be downloaded at: www.nursingworld.org.

OSHA Offers Guide to Stockpiling Masks, Respirators

2008-05-15T05:58:00.004-05:00

US Department of Labor (DOL) yesterday released proposed guidance on stockpiling respirators and facemasks in the workplace, which encourages employers to stockpile the items because of the likelihood that they will run short during an influenza pandemic.

The proposed guidance lists stockpiling estimates for individual employees in a range of medium- to very high-risk jobs, listing numbers of masks or respirators by work shift and a theoretical pandemic duration (about 120 work days). For example, a retail-store employee might need two masks per shift and 240 for the duration of a pandemic, whereas a nurse in a medical office or clinic classified has high risk might need four N95 respirators per shift and 480 to cover the whole pandemic. Dental professionals are classified as high risk due to performing aerosol generating procedures and recommended to have 960 masks available per employee .

It is important to note that healthcare workers must be first fit-tested for N95 respirators for proper sizing and use.

See: Proposed Guidance on Workplace Stockpiling of Respirators and Facemasks for Pandemic Influenza: http://www.osha.gov/dsg/guidance/stockpiling-facemasks-respirators.html

Ref. Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy --

Please contact safetyDRs at (888) 669 - 8846 x 701 for low cost, on-site, N95 respirator fit-testing.

Employers Must Post OSHA Illness/Injury Summaries Beginning Feb. 1, 2008

2008-01-27T13:03:00.000-05:00

SafetyDRs would like to reminded employers that beginning Feb. 1, they must post a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred during 2007. Employers are only required to post OSHA Form 300A (summary), not the OSHA 300 log.

The summary must be posted from Feb. 1 to April 30, 2008. The summary must list the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred in 2007 and were logged on the OSHA 300 form. Information about the annual average number of employees and total hours worked during the calendar year is also required to assist in calculating incidence rates. Companies with no recordable injuries or illnesses in 2007 must post the form with zeroes on the total line. All summaries must be certified by a company executive.

The form is to be displayed in a common area wherever notices to employees are usually posted. Employers with ten or fewer employees and employers in certain industry groups are normally exempt from federal OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping and posting requirements.

Copies of the OSHA Forms 300 and 300A are available on the OSHA Recordkeeping Web page in either Adobe PDF or Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet format.

New Respirator Fit-Testing Protocol

2008-01-17T11:45:00.000-05:00

OSHA recently published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for a new respirator fit-testing protocol—the Abbreviated Bitrex® Qualitative Fit-Testing (ABQLFT) protocol. The proposed rule would add the ABQLFT protocol as an alternative to the current OSHA-approved qualitative fit-test procedures. The ABQLFT protocol for the seven exercises listed in the existing OSHA-approved Bitrex fit-test procedure in the Respiratory Protection standard would shorten the duration of each of the seven fit-test exercises from one minute to 15 seconds. Comments are being accepted until Feb. 25, 2008.

Do you have N95 respirators for your staff? N95 respirators should be used for contact with known or suspected patients with certain airborne infectious disesases (e.g. Tuberculosis, SARS, Pandemic Influenza). SafetyDRs can come to your office and fit-test applicable staff. It only takes about 10 minutes per employee and the required written OSHA Respiratory Protection Plan is included. Access to low cost N95 respirators are also available. Please contact safetyDRs at: (888) 669 - 8846, 701

Norovirus spreads via keyboard and mouse

2008-01-07T09:15:00.000-05:00

The CDC reports an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in an elementary school associated with contaminated computer keyboards. Norovirus causes the majority of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in the United States. Person-to-person spread through the fecal-oral route, contaminated food and water, and aerosolized vomitus are known to transmit norovirus; contact with contaminated environmental surfaces also has been implicated in transmission.

Laboratory studies have demonstrated that fingers contaminated with norovirus can transfer the virus to environmental surfaces, which can subsequently contaminate clean fingers with detectable amounts of norovirus. Because of shared computer use in health-care facilities, schools, and workplaces, certain researchers have suggested that computer equipment might be a route of bacterial disease transmission.

Proper washing with soap and water can eliminate norovirus from hands; alcohol-based sanitizers may also be effective. Potentially (but nonvisibly) soiled surfaces are best disinfected with a solution of 1:50 to 1:10 concentration of household bleach in water (1,000--5,000 ppm chlorine) by vigorous wiping for >10 seconds. Disposable towels used to clean visibly soiled surfaces should be discarded appropriately after use because they can transfer norovirus to fingers and other surfaces

Care should be taken when cleaning computer equipment. Washable keyboards and mice are available.

Ref. MMWR, January 4, 2008 / 56(51);1340-1343

New Year Safety Resolutions!

2008-01-01T10:34:00.000-05:00

Let 2008 be the year that you and your staff work towards a positive safety culture. OSHA has acknowledged that those facilities that have a total safety culture have less employee injuries and increased work productivity. Here are some tips to consider:

- Ensure that you accomplish required education and training (i.e. annual bloodborne pathogens training).

- Conduct a survey to identify where you are using sharps in your office. Identify potential sharps safety devices (engineering controls) and have your staff evaluate them and implement as applicable.

- Get everyone involved. Share the responsibility to check eyewash stations, fire extinguishers, maintain material safety data sheets, labelling secondary chemical containers, etc.

Let safetyDRs (formally Dynamic Dental Safety) help you with all your office safety compliance and training. We provide a comprehensive and cost-effective solution of becoming your partner in maintaining safety and risk management in your facility. The program includes all required manuals, on-site safety surveys and assistance with ensuring your facility is in complete regulatory compliance and on-site training for your staff including continuing education credit and 24/7 telephone support. Contact safetyDRs at: (888) 669-8846 x703 or visit us at safetyDRs.com.

National Handwashing Week: Dec. 2 - 8

2007-12-03T08:59:00.000-05:00

December 2 – 8 is National Handwashing Awareness Week. Keeping hands clean is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of infection and illness.

Wash Your Hands: The Right Way:

When washing hands with soap and water:

• Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
• Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
• Continue rubbing hands for 15-20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to a friend.
• Rinse hands well under running water.
• Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
If soap and clean water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub to clean your hands. Alcohol-based hand rubs significantly reduce the number of germs on skin and are fast acting.

When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

• Apply product to the palm of one hand.
• Rub hands together.
• Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.

World AIDS Day

2007-12-01T11:00:00.000-05:00

World AIDS Day --- December 1, 2007

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5647a1.htm?s_cid=mm5647a1_e%0A

December 1 marks the 20th observance of World AIDS Day, an annual worldwide event established to increase awareness and education regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In 2007, an estimated 33.2 million persons worldwide are living with HIV; the number of deaths from AIDSin 2007 is expected to total 2.1 million (1). In the United States, an estimated 1 million persons were living with HIV in 2003 (2); of these, approximately 25% were unaware of their infection and thus were at high risk for infecting others.

HIV testing remains a crucial component of HIV prevention strategies. Persons who know they are infected with HIV can seek health care and protect their partners from becoming infected. In 2006, CDC issued newguidelines recommending routine HIV testing of adults, adolescents,and pregnant women in health-care settings in the United States (3). In addition, CDC recently provided funding to increase testing among populations disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Additional information regarding World AIDS Day and HIV prevention measures isavailable at
http://www.cdc.gov/features/worldaidsday and http://www.cdc.gov/hiv.

New NIOSH Blog

2007-11-07T07:22:00.000-05:00

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) introduced a new NIOSH Science Blog on Nov. 5, 2007, to further communicate the scientific issues related to NIOSH's research and recommendations, and to stimulate discussion on those issues.

The blog or web log at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/blog/ is intended as a new way to help NIOSH fulfill its mission of translating research into practice for preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. It is designed to provide an expeditious system for partners and stakeholders to present ideas to NIOSH scientists and each other, while engaging in robust scientific discussion with the goal of protecting workers.

MRSA in the Workplace

2007-10-28T09:51:00.000-05:00

NIOSH has posted a new web page with information and recommendationsto help employers and workers address workplace concerns associated with MRSA.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/mrsa/

Posted as a resource for employers and workers who may be looking forinformation that can be applied to workplaces other than health-carefacilities, which are already included under general CDC infection-control guidelines.

Needlestick Brochure

2007-09-14T19:41:00.000-05:00

The Premier Safety Institute developed a brochure to educate healthcare and public health and safety workers in any setting across the continuum of care about the serious risks of occupational needlestick injuries and strategies and devices to reduce risks. The settings where needlestick injuries may occur include ambulatory settings, physicians' offices, ambulances, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, home health care, assisted living, or hospitals.

Download copy of brochure
Needlestick prevention brochure (.pdf) (925 KB)

The 12-page, easy-to-read brochure has information about:
How needlesticks happen
Why needlesticks are stressful to you and your family
What work practices can protect you
What the laws are for using safety devices
How to evaluate safety devices
How to dispose of sharps safely
What to do if you are injured

Labor Day Message

2007-09-03T11:00:00.000-05:00

As the President said today, "On Labor Day, we honor the hard work and dedication of the men and women of our workforce. Their efforts contribute to the prosperity of our great Nation". We at Dynamic Dental Safety would like to echo those sediments and especially thank dental and all other healthcare professionals for their hard work, dedication and compassion to their patients.

Need a Flu Shot Reminder?

2007-08-28T07:37:00.000-05:00

Flu season is just around the corner… The Centers for Disease Control has determined that vaccinations are the single most effective way to prevent flu and strongly encourages high-risk individuals (including health care providers) to get vaccinated. From a public health prospective, it is recommended that you encourage your office staff and high-risk patients to get an annual Flu shot.

This includes individuals who are:

-- Anyone who wants to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill or spreading influenza to others

-- All persons over 50 years old

-- Children and adolescents who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy

-- Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season

-- Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus)

-- Adults and children who have a weakened immune system (due to: HIV/AIDS, long term treatment with drugs such as steroids, cancer treatments)

-- Adults and children who have certain muscle or nerve disorders (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders) that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration; and

-- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities

- Anyone who lives or cares for people at high risk for influenza related complications

-- Health care providers

-- Household contacts and caregivers of children from birth to 5 years of age and adults age 50 and older.

-- All children aged 6-59 months

See http://www.FindaFluShot.com to schedule a reminder to insure you are alerted to find a convenient location to obtain your immunization this coming flu season.