Healthcare Facility Testing
Industrial Hygiene and safety issues are among the many hazard issues that require careful management in the increasingly complex physical environment of hospitals and other health care facilities. These facilities, along with nearly all other industrial organizations in the technological era, are subject to mounting public and political concerns about their methods of handling these concerns. Pressure has never been greater to establish a process for managing these issues.
OEHS can provide baseline testing to assess the presence of lead, copper, and bacteria, including total coliforms (E. coli) and Legionella.
Requirements indicate that preference must be given to qualified professionals that hold either an ASSE 12080 certification, a certified industrial hygienist (CIH) designation, or a health and safety professional working under the supervision of a CIH.
Contact OEHS to talk about testing your facility
Why do I need to get my healthcare facility tested?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has targeted hospitals for more aggressive compliance audits. Areas emphasized include hazard communication, control of blood-borne pathogens, respiratory protection and electrical safety.
In addition, the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) has established a new standard to emphasize the need for adequate occupational health and safety within the hospital environs.
Only 8% of 3,686 hospitals surveyed met all the basic criteria for an effective occupational safety and health employee program. The survey was conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Areas of Concern
A few of the areas of concern for effective occupational health and safety for the health-care environment:
- Respiratory Protection
- Health and safety education
- Environmental surveillance and control of chemical hazards: ethylene oxide, solvents, xylene, formaldehyde, benzene, antineoplastic drugs, waste anesthetic gases (halothane and nitrous oxide), mercury, methyl Methacrylate, disinfectants (quaternary ammonia compounds, chlorine, iodophors, phenols), solvents (acetone, trichloroethylene, methanol, toluene), glutaraldehyde, osmium tetraoxide, picric acid, perchloric acid, mutagens and teratogens, carcinogens, azides, silver nitrate, dyes, asbestos, fungal and bacteria monitoring.
- Hearing conservation (noise monitoring, industrial and community)
- Hazard communication
- Personal protective equipment
- Ventilation surveys (laboratory, maintenance shop & food service hoods)
- Ergonomics
- Non-ionizing radiation
- Laboratory safety standard (chemical hygiene plan)
- Heat stress
- Environmental air monitoring
- Laser Safety
- Emergency and disaster plans
- Indoor Air Quality
- Contractor health and safety
- Electrical safety (lock out – tag out)
- Reproductive health hazards policy
- Blood-borne pathogens
- Clean-Room Particulate Monitoring
- LEED’s – Green Guide for Health Care
- Safety Issues
- Physical Exertion
- Compressed Gases
- Flammable & Combustible liquids, vapors & gases
- Electrical Safety
- Walking and working surfaces
- Machine guarding
Rapid Response & Expert Solutions
OEHS industrial hygiene air quality consultants provide rapid response and solutions to events or occupant complaints related to conditions in the health care environment.
This involves indoor air quality testing and an indoor air quality evaluation to characterize concerns, evaluate potential causes and make recommendations for corrective actions.
Program development and implementation is critical to indoor environmental quality (IEQ) incidents to ensure that frequency of the problems is minimized. OEHS industrial hygienists work closely with building managers to create maintenance programs, develop procedures, perform audits, and provide staff training.
Hazardous Building Materials
OEHS Hazardous Building Material (HBM) management services help to identify and manage asbestos, lead, PCBs and other hazardous materials in the health care environment. Prior to disturbing these materials or before renovation/demolition activities occur, OEHS can survey the effected locations to identify the location and condition of potentially hazardous building materials.
If materials are to be impacted, OEHS can assist with specifications, abatement monitoring and clearance reporting. Operations and maintenance plans can also be created for material that will remain in the facilities. We help educate occupants, participate in planning activities, review renovations/construction plans and interface with regulatory agencies.
SUCCESS STORY
Veteran Affairs Medical Center
Employees were experiencing adverse health effects at Veteran Affairs Medical Center Pharmacy in Ann Arbor, Michigan. OEHS industrial hygienist found the source of the illnesses: a rare case of mass psychogenic illness related to poor Indoor Air Quality. Our recommendations helped resolve employee dissatisfaction and dispel the issue.
SUCCESS STORY
Veterans' Hospital
OEHS developed, implemented, and managed an occupational health medical surveillance program for a large 1,200-bed veterans' hospital located in northern Indiana. This project involved classifying occupations by type of exposure and working with the medical staff to recommend appropriate examination and exam frequency to protect employees for the anticipated occupational stresses.
SUCCESS STORY
University of Florida
For the University of Florida Research Station in Winter Garden, OEHS conducted advanced air monitoring techniques to evaluate employee exposures to numerous chemicals used in hospital laboratories.
SUCCESS STORY
St. John's Hospital
OEHS designed and conducted a bioaerosol survey of the laboratory section of St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, IL. Samples taken from suspect material on the roof found clogged roof drains, which caused fungal growth. The HVAC system fresh air intake was drawing in the contaminated air. With our report, St. John's was able to fix the problem.
SUCCESS STORY
Doctor's Hospital
OEHS evaluated the indoor air quality at Doctor’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois, where employees were having symptoms. We found an improperly plumbed air conditioner caused moisture that led to fungal growth under carpeting.
Get help from OEHS
The certified professionals at OEHS have extensive experience in helping healthcare institutions uncover potential health and safety issues. These issues affect not just patients but employees, too. With emphasis on OSHA and JCAHO regulations and mandates, now is the time to take steps to ensure that your facility meets regulations. Contact OEHS to talk about testing your facility.