22: Medical, First-aid, and Bloodborne Pathogens
“Safety brings first-aid to the uninjured.” – F.S. Hughes
Overview
Employers are required to maintain workplaces in a safe and sanitary condition. While maintaining an accident free workplace is ideal there will be occasions that do not require employees to receive immediate medical attention by a medical professional onsite or be transported offsite to an emergency facility. The employer or designee must be able to render first-aid and make available to employees first-aid kits including guidance for when to access and render first-aid.
Employers are required to log on the OSHA 300 form injuries occurring in the workplace including those requiring first-aid. There are also industries such as healthcare where workers are exposed to hazards that require continuous medical monitoring if an exposure is acute, such as when a needle stick exposes the healthcare worker to blood or equivalents. Finally, medical monitoring of workers is required when they are continuously exposed to physical, chemical, and biological hazards. OSHA expects employers to swiftly respond to an employee injury or exposure no matter the severity.
Hazardous Materials and Waste cleanup may also include bio hazards such as blood and human/animal waste. Emergency responders, healthcare workers, and even workers who are part of housekeeping and maintenance can be exposed to biohazards. This chapter will review employer requirements for rendering care, protecting workers from harm, and the duty to provide medical attention after exposure events.
Chapter Objective:
- Discuss employer responsibility for providing first-aid to employees.
- Identify some injuries requiring first-aid.
- Discuss employer responsibilities under Bloodborne pathogen standard.
Learning Outcome:
- Distinguish first-aid, medical treatment, medical monitoring reporting requirements.
Standards: 1910.151 Subpart K Medical Services and first-aid,1910.1020 Access to employee exposure and medical records, 1910.1030 Bloodborne Pathogens, 1926.50 Subpart D Medical Services and first-aid
Key Terms:
Bloodborne Pathogen, first aid, hepatitis, HIV, medical treatment, surveillance
Mini-Lecture: first-aid
Topic Required Time: 1 hrs; Independent Study and reflection 3/4 hour.
Thumbnail: First-aid Kit and Supplies, attribution Stevepb, Pixabay