1 8 S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E M A Y 2 0 1 5
1. To limit staff's exposure to bloodborne
pathogens and other potentially infectious
material, you must provide a clean and sani-
tary work environment. To accomplish this,
OSHA requires that you _____________.
a. assemble a room turnover team
b. have a written policy on cleaning and
decontamination
c. hire a third-party cleaning outfit
d. ensure cleaning supplies are readily avail-
able for staff
Answer: b
OSHA requires that you do all you can to keep your staff safe from bloodborne
pathogens and other potentially infectious materials. It's a big task, but having a
written policy that explicitly dictates cleaning and decontamination is the first
step. For example, OSHA requires that all facilities have and implement an
appropriate written schedule for cleaning and methods of decontamination.
According to OSHA, this written schedule must be based on the location with-
in the facility, type of surfaces to be cleaned, type of soil present and the tasks
or procedures performed in the area. That means you should have specific poli-
cies in place for different tasks, such as between-case turnovers and terminal
cleaning. Review the policies annually and make them easily accessible to staff.
2. How long can hepatitis B survive outside the body?
a. 1 day
b. 6 hours
c. 5 days
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
z MOPPING MATTERS Always
use a fresh mop head and an EPA-
approved germicidal agent when
cleaning the floor.
