Inspections Emphasize Respirator Compliance

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Healthcare facilities should ensure that all workers wear respirators appropriately, especially during the H1N1 pandemic. In a recent JointCommission Online issue, the organization noted that OSHA recently released “Enforcement Procedures for High to Very High Occupational Exposure Risk to 2009 H1N1 Influenza.” The document explains OSHA’s policies and procedures for inspecting organizations for inadequate use of respirators during the flu pandemic. The Joint Commission notes that OSHA offers the following documents to assist in compliance:

• The National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) offers an information page that includes evaluating types of respirators, how to use respirators, and common questions and myths about respirator use.

• OSHA developed the following instructional videos that are available on YouTube. “The Difference Between Respirators and Surgical Masks” and “Respirator Safety.”

FAC