Long-Term Care

Tip of the week: Develop policies that address key OSHA compliance issues

Contemporary Long-Term Care Weekly, September 10, 2009

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Although all workers are responsible for maintaining compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, the administrator needs to also make sure maintenance personnel, along with the associated housekeeping and laundry departments, develop policies that will address key compliance issues. OSHA inspectors may direct their concern toward worker safety, but maintaining compliance with their standards crosses over and fortifies the safety of residents as well. The following are some key OSHA issues that have to be addressed in any developed policies regularly as they are often the target of OSHA citations:

  • Means of egress
  • Emergency and fire prevention plans
  • Hazardous materials elimination and handling
  • Hazard communication
  • Hazardous waste operations
  • Use of personal protective equipment
  • Lockout/tagout policy
  • Emergency flushing
  • Electrical concerns
  • Air contamination and proper ventilation
  • Bloodborne pathogens

This is an excerpt from HCPro’s book, The Long-Term Care Administrator’s Field Guide, by Brian Garavaglia, PhD.



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