By Pat Tydell, RN, MSW, MPH Objectives 1. Identify the general requirements of an Exposure Control Plan. Enumerate the types of PPEs used by healthcare workers to control occupational exposure to infectious materials.
Worker safety is an important aspect of any employer s responsibility.
Over the years, numerous rules and regulations have evolved addressing safe workplace practices. The Department of Labor s Occupational Safety and Health Administration establishes many regulations concerning workplace safety in healthcare. Of these, many specifically address workers who deal with infectious materials. These are measures that seek to provide a safe environment for the worker. An example of an engineering control would be the requirement for disposing of needles and sharps in special puncture-proof containers.