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...]
Enforcement Trends: Has OSHA Done Enough to Enforce COVID-19 Workplace Safety Rules?
Doctors & Nurses Eager to Get Back to Work Despite COVID-19 Anxieties
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...]
Earning our Spot on the Patient-Centered Care Team
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...]
Ergonomics in the Laboratory Setting
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...]
Changes in hazardous waste management: the Generator Improvement Rule
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...]
Diagnostics & Demographics: Is Your Lab Prepared to Accommodate an Aging Population?
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...]
The Safety Interpretation
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...]
Where’s your lab safety manual?
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...]
Diagnostic danger in the lab: Time to reform how we process orders
By Oleg Bess, M.D. bio I don't know about you, but I was stunned by the findings from a recent report published by Coverys, a national liability insurer, which I feel should put the entire … [Read more...]
FDA Watch: Agency Approves DTC Genetic Breast Cancer Test—But Attaches Strings
On March 6, the FDA announced its first ever approval of a direct-to-consumer breast cancer gene test—23andMe's genetic health risk report for detecting BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations most commonly … [Read more...]