On June 21, OSHA issued a new Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring labs, hospitals and other providers to take extensive measures to protect frontline workers against risk of COVID-19 … [Read more...]
Compliance Alert
OSHA Orders Inspectors to Use the Hammer to Enforce New COVID-19 Protocols
September 2, 2021
WORKPLACE SAFETY
CMS Couldn’t Verify Hospital Safety During COVID and Won’t Be Able to Do So in Next Pandemic
July 29, 2021
CMS was unable to determine whether hospitals were maintaining quality and safety standards during the COVID-19 crisis. And unless changes are made to its regulatory powers, it won’t be able to make … [Read more...]
Enforcement Trends: Has OSHA Done Enough to Enforce COVID-19 Workplace Safety Rules?
February 4, 2021
Even after the election and swearing in of the new President, federal government response to the COVID-19 pandemic remains a politically charged issue. One bone of contention involves whether OSHA has … [Read more...]
Focus On
Doctors & Nurses Eager to Get Back to Work Despite COVID-19 Anxieties
May 27, 2020
Layoffs and furloughs are a new thing for many medical professionals who’ve come to expect stability in their employment. So, it’s not surprising that a new survey suggests that medical professionals … [Read more...]
LAB OPERATIONS
Earning our Spot on the Patient-Centered Care Team
August 12, 2019
By Jennifer Dawson, MHA, FACHE, CPHQ, LSSBB, DLM(ASCP)SLS, QIHC, QLC bio There is a lot of talk these days about integrating the laboratory into patient-centered care teams1 and about … [Read more...]
SAFETY
Ergonomics in the Laboratory Setting
July 28, 2019
By Dan Scungio, MT (ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) bio Sometimes when I am talking about lab safety and the topic turns to ergonomics, I get an unusual reaction from the audience—laughter. It … [Read more...]
LAB SAFETY
Changes in hazardous waste management: the Generator Improvement Rule
June 3, 2019
By Dan Scungio, MT (ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) bio If you haven't heard by now, you should know that the EPA published its Generator Improvement Rule (GIR) in 2016. It is an update to the … [Read more...]
PATIENT SAFETY
Diagnostics & Demographics: Is Your Lab Prepared to Accommodate an Aging Population?
November 5, 2018
Talk of an aging population isn't idle chatter. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 2030 will mark a significant turning point in the nation's history. By then, all baby boomers will be older than … [Read more...]
LAB SAFETY
The Safety Interpretation
September 10, 2018
By Dan Scungio, MT (ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) bio When hospitals were placed on OSHA's list of "high-risk" workplaces, no one had to ask why. OSHA adjusts that list based on the number of … [Read more...]
COMPLIANCE
Where’s your lab safety manual?
August 6, 2018
By Dan Scungio, MT (ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) bio Laboratory leadership should be committed to providing a safe working environment, and they should believe their employees have a right to … [Read more...]
