Q&A: Physician, do thy laundry
OSHA Healthcare Connection, April 21, 2009
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Q: A doctor in our practice so strongly objects to paper gowns that she is willing to do the laundry at home if we provide cloth gowns to her patients. Is there an OSHA problem here?
A: The answer depends on whether the gowns meet the contamination definition under the bloodborne pathogen standard. OSHA has regulations on how employees—even if they happen to be doctors—must limit the handling of contaminated laundry to reduce exposures.
For more on physician/laundress multi-tasking, see “Doc’s penchant for doing laundry not an OSHA violation, but hold the starch.”
Did you find this advice helpful? Learn how you can get all your OSHA questions answered by registering for OSHA Healthcare Advisor's "Q&A Roundtable: Solutions to Your Compliance Challenges" audioconference, Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (Eastern).
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