Preventing Workplace Violence: A Road Map for Healthcare Facilities
Preparedness is the first step in preventing violence at work. OSHA outlines five core building blocks which when implemented should reduce the chance of a violent event. Check out this great white paper on Preventing Workplace Violence: A Road Map for Helathcare Get Your Free Copy of Preventing Workplace Violence: A Road Map for Healthcare Facilities
Who should be your OSHA and HIPAA compliance officer?
Let’s be honest here; most OSHA and HIPAA healthcare Compliance Officers are chosen because they are the ones on the staff with the most time, and that’s usually the newest people. While this idea seems logical it can cause a lot of problems in the long run. There are drawbacks in choosing a compliance officer. […]
COVID-19: What Now?
Numbers of new cases of COVID-19 infections are at the lowest they have been in months. In fact, many states, as well as counties, are easing restrictions such as mask mandates indoors. These decisions are based on new tools created by the CDC to reduce risk of exposure and possibly infection and to reduce the […]
It’s Your Call February 2022
OSHA: Has OSHA relaxed any of the covid-19 guidance for employers? No. Although the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) has been withdrawn, OSHA is working towards a permanent regulatory solution and will enforce the general duty clause and general standards. Therefore, employers should continue to provide adequate protections against covid-19 for healthcare employees. This includes, but […]
The Best Way to Prevent an OSHA Inspection
Most OSHA inspections in healthcare practices are brought about by employee complaints and can be preventable. You may think that disgruntled ex-employees are doing the reporting. That does happen frequently, but OSHA is aware of these kinds of retaliatory complaints and weighs that factor into their determination on whether to send you a letter or […]
OSHA CITATION PENALTIES
A lot of our clients ask us what the OSHA penalty is for a particular violation. OSHA citations and the accompanying penalties do not work that way. There is no schedule that says an overfilled sharps container is $900 or failure to provide appropriate protective equipment is $2500. OSHA citations are based on failure to […]
OSHA COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS)
Two laws were enacted last week that affect healthcare facilities of which you should be aware. Both revolve around COVID-19 vaccination of employees. One is the new OSHA COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard and the other is the Centers for Medicare + Medicaid Services (CMS) Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Interim Final […]
Tennessee adopted Occupational Safety and Health Standards Covid-19 Emergency Temporary Rule
TMC is providing this information for healthcare workers in the state of Tennessee. Tennessee has adopted Chapter 0800-01-12 Occupational Safety and Health Standards Covid-19 Emergency Temporary Rule. Many outpatient medical + dental practices, will be exempt from the requirements of this rule. Non-hospital-based ambulatory care settings will be able to claim the exemption by demonstrating […]
COVID Exposure or Infection? Next Steps
Determining the next steps when a worker has symptoms or has been exposed to COVD-19 can be tricky. First let’s review the definition of exposure: Being within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. An individual can spread the infection for 48 hours […]
OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS): Are You Exempt?
In January of 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order which directed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to take action to reduce the risk that workers may contract COVID-19. As a result of that order, Federal OSHA issued the OSHA COVID-19 ETS on June 21, 2021. The OSHA COVID-19 ETS applies to employers […]