It’s Your Call – May 2023

hepatitis b vaccine documentation

Question: We recently hired a new clinical worker who received the Hepatitis B vaccine series but can only provide documentation for the titer. Is the titer sufficient? Answer: No. A clinical employee is considered immune with provider-documented proof of the Hepatitis B series AND a positive anti-HBs (titer). When proof cannot be provided, the employee […]

It’s Your Call – April 2023

safety data sheet

OSHA: If our office has the current Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for a product, do we have to keep the old one? No, the old SDS can be discarded if the original formulation is the same. When the formulation is different, the employer must keep both the old and current SDS for 30 years.   […]

OSHA new enforcement directive effective March 26, 2023

OSHA enforcement

Each year OSHA publishes new Enforcement Directives. These directives set the agenda for inspectors to specifically take a close look at certain problems that are critical to the safety and health of employees. This new directive is explicitly focused on repeat and/or willful violators. The phrase “repeat” means a company has been cited previously for […]

OSHA and Mold

OSHA and mold

While OSHA does not have specific laws that apply to mold in healthcare environments, they do have guidance on what is expected in these settings as does the CDC. A healthcare facility can be cited under the General Duty Clause that states that employers are required to provide a safe and healthy work environment. Mold […]

It’s Your Call – March 2023

OSHA violations

What is the current Federal OSHA citation for a serious violation? The maximum penalty is $15,625 per violation for serious, other-than-serious, posting requirements, and failure to abate. The employer must post the OSHA citation(s) immediately near the alleged violation and shall ensure that the citation is not altered, defaced, or concealed. More information can be […]

Total Medical Compliance and EmergeOrtho partner to provide OSHA compliance for North Carolina healthcare practices

EmergeOrtho compliance with TMC

Indian Trail, NC – March 2, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ – Total Medical Compliance (TMC), a leading provider of healthcare compliance solutions, is pleased to announce their partnership with EmergeOrtho. This partnership will provide and enhance EmergeOrtho’s OSHA compliance training to support their healthcare network in federal and state compliance regulations. “We’re excited to bring EmergeOrtho into […]

It’s Your Call – February 2023

OSHA: Are paper copies of OSHA posters required or can offices display them electronically? Yes, paper copies are required. The 1903.2 Standard also states: “Such notice or notices shall be posted by the employer in each establishment in a conspicuous place or places where notices to employees are customarily posted. Each employer shall take steps […]

The Importance of Managing Conflict at Work

conflict at work

Almost everyone has a story of conflict at work – conflict is inevitable when running a business and working with others. There are many different types of conflict and causes for it, and understanding the nuance in each can help to manage it. Conflict de-escalation techniques can be used in any situation, whether at work, […]

U.S. Department of Labor announces annual adjustments to OSHA civil penalties for 2023

OSHA civil penalty

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced changes to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) civil penalty amounts based on cost-of-living adjustments for 2023. In 2015, Congress passed the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act to advance the effectiveness of civil monetary penalties and to maintain their deterrent effect. Under the Act, […]

It’s Your Call – January 2023

it's your call July 2024

OSHA: Which devices use lithium-ion batteries, and what are the concerns? Lithium-ion batteries are used to charge computers, phones, and medical devices such as dental curing lights, cardiac pacemakers, bone-growth stimulators, and glucose monitoring systems. According to The International Association of Fire & Rescue Services, battery-related fires have increased in the last 6 years, although […]