Compliance with bloodborne pathogen standards at eight correctional facilities.
This study had three objectives: (a) to examine compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens (BBPs) Standard at eight correctional facilities, (b) to identify potential barriers to compliance, and (c) to discuss steps to address these barriers. Eight facilities of different sizes and locations were visited to examine employer adherence to 15 selected BBP risk reduction activities. Facility compliance was less than 50% for four activities: updating exposure control plans, implementing use of appropriate safer medical devices, soliciting employee input on selection of safer devices, and training medical staff when such devices are implemented. Inconsistent compliance may be due to difficulties in applying the standards in the correctional health care work setting. Any BBP training and health communication activities targeted to correctional health care workers should be tailored to the correctional facility setting.
Industrywide Studies Branch, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA. ELehman@cdc.gov
Everett J
EJ
Lehman
Janice M
JM
Huy
Susan M
SM
Viet
Ahmed
A
Gomaa
D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006298:Health Services Administration / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration; D011330:Prisons / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration / Q000592:standards
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines