Category: Biological

Exposure Control Plan:

Who must have an exposure control plan?

Any employer with employees covered by the standard must have a written exposure control plan. This includes allemployers with employees who may have occupational exposure to blood. If should be noted that plans are required of employers with two categories of employees other than those most readily identifiable:

(1) part-time, temporary and perdiem employees in the health care industry and

(2) employees trained in first aid/CPR and designated to respond to emergencies in any place of employment.

What must the exposure control plan include?

The exposure control plan must include a determination of which employees are covered using

(1) a list of all job classificationin which all employees have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials and

(2) a list of job classifications in which only some of the employees have occupational exposure. The job classifications in which only some of the employees have exposure must then be analyzed. Those tasks and procedures in which occupational exposure occurs must be identified, and the employees performing those tasks, and therefore covered by the plan, identified. However, it is not necessary to list individual employee names.

The exposure determination must be made without regard to the use of personal protective equipment (as though it were not being used). An exposure control plan is required of all employers with employees covered by the standard. 

In addition to the determination of covered employees outlined above, it must include at least the following elements:

1. The schedule and methods of implementation for all elements of the standard that pertain to this employer.
2. The procedure for the evaluation of circumstances surrounding exposure incidents, as required by the standard.

The standard requires the employer to annually review and update the exposure control plan and more frequently when necessary to reflect new or modified tasks that affect occupational exposure as well as to reflect new or revised employee positions with occupational exposure. An important part of this review is the consideration and evaluation of engineering controls, such as commercially available safer needle devices and needleless systems, which eliminate or reduce employee exposure to percutaneous injury with contaminated devices.

To accomplish this, the employer must solicit input from nonmanagerial employees in the evaluation, selection, and use of new commercially available devices. The nonmanagement employees chosen must be from among those who are responsible for direct patient care.

A copy of the standard with notes detailing the schedule and method of implementation of the standard in that particular workplace may be adequate for small facilities. Larger facilities may wish to incorporate the exposure control plan as one portion of the infection control plan or may otherwise develop a facility-wide program. Model exposure control plans, which can be adapted to individual company needs, can be obtained either through the Education, Training.

Methods of Compliance:

Universal precautions:

Universal precautions, as outlined and defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are to be used to prevent contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. The term universal precautions refers to a method of bloodborne disease control which requires that all human blood and other potentially infectious materials be treated as if known to be infectious with HIV, HBV or other bloodborne pathogens regardless of the perceived low risk of a patient or patient population. Another method of infection control is called body substance isolation (BSI) or standard precautions.

This method defines all body fluids and substances as infectious. BSI incorporates not only the fluids and materials covered by this standard but expands coverage to include all body fluids and substances. It is an acceptable alternative to universal precautions provided that all other portions of the standard are also followed.

Engineering and work practice controls:

The standard requires the employer to use engineering and work practice controls as the primary means of eliminating or minimizing employee exposure. Engineering controls reduce employee exposure in the workplace by either removing or isolating the hazard or isolating the worker from exposure. Work practice controls alter the manner in which a task is performed to make the task safer. When occupational exposure remains after using these controls, the employer must provide, and be sure that employees use, personal protective equipment as additional protection.

Some examples of engineering controls that may be used to reduce exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials include self-sheathing needles, puncture-resistant containers for the disposal of contaminated sharps, and resuscitation bags and ventilation devices. Examples of work practice controls include prohibiting recapping, removing or bending needles unless no alternative exists; enforcing hand washing procedures following the removal of gloves; restricting eating and drinking in work areas; and decontaminating equipment before servicing.

Handwashing facilities and requirements:

Handwashing facilities must be readily accessible to employees. Handwashing with soap and at least tepid (lukewarm) running water must be performed as soon as feasible to adequately flush contaminated material from the skin. The employer must ensure that handwashing is routinely performed immediately following removal of gloves and other personal protective equipment that have become contaminated. Employers must make handwashing facilities available at a reasonable distance from a work area where exposure may occur. Contamination of surfaces is more likely when employees must travel long distances, through doorways and through stairs to reach handwashing facilities, and is therefore not permitted by the standard.

When handwashing facilities cannot be made available, such as to emergency personnel at accident sites, antiseptic hand cleaners or antiseptic towelettes must be provided. The employee must wash his or her hands or other contaminated skin with running water and soap as soon as possible.

Handling needles and sharps:

Devices exist to provide an alternative to the use of needles for some procedures. Examples of such devices include stopcocks (on-off switches), needle-protected systems or needleless systems to connect intravenous lines, and self-sheathing needles. Needles may be recapped only in very limited situations.

When a procedure requires that the needle be recapped, the employee must use some type of device that protects the hand or allows a safe one-handed recapping method. Finger or hand shields may be used but must be constructed so that the employee is not exposed to a needle protruding from the side or end of the cap. Forceps may also be used, but a onehanded method is required. Shearing or breaking contaminated needles is never permitted.

Personal protective equipment:

When occupational exposure continues after engineering and work practice controls have been instituted, personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used. The PPE must prevent blood or other potentially infectious materials from passing through to or contacting the employees’ work or street clothes, undergarments, skin, eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes. This barrier must remain intact under normal conditions of use and for the entire time it is being used. The employer must provide appropriate PPE at no cost to the employee. PPE must be cleaned, laundered, disposed of, repaired and replaced at no cost to the employee.

PPE must be provided in appropriate sizes and accessible locations. Training must be given as to what personal protective equipment to use, where it is kept, and how it is properly used.

Housekeeping:

The standard requires employers to ensure that the worksite is maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. An appropriate written schedule for cleaning and a method of decontamination based upon the location within the facility, type of surface to be cleaned, type of soil present, and tasks and procedures must be implemented. The term worksite refers not only to permanent fixed facilities but also covers temporary, nonfixed worksites such as ambulances, bloodmobiles and temporary blood collection centers.

A solution of household bleach (containing 5 percent sodium hypochlorite) diluted with water to a concentration of 1:10 to 1:100 is an effective disinfectant against HBV and HIV. However, it may be corrosive to some equipment and environmental surfaces and therefore may not be an appropriate choice for all situations.

Hepatitis B vaccination:

The standard requires that all employees with reasonably anticipated exposure, regardless of the frequency of exposure, be offered vaccination against the hepatitis B virus. This must take place after the training, and within 10 working days of initial assignment in a covered job description. The vaccine must be provided at no cost to the employee unles.

(1) the employee has previously received the complete hepatitis B vaccination series,

(2) antibody testing reveals the employee is immune, or

(3) medical reasons prevent taking the vaccinations.

An employee may refuse the vaccination, but if he or she does so, the employer must document the refusal by having the employee sign the declination from required by the standard. Employees who decline the vaccine must be allowed the option of having the vaccination at any time so long as they still have occupational exposure.

Post-exposure evaluation and follow-up:

Following the report of any incident in which an employee has non-intact skin, eye, mouth, mucous membrane or parenteral (under the skin) contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials, the employer must provide the employee a confidential medical evaluation and follow-up. This evaluation must be conducted by a licensed health care professional. It must include the following elements:

1. Documentation of the route(s) of exposure and the circumstances under which the exposure occurred.

2. Identification and documentation of the source individual unless the employer documents that such identification is infeasible or prohibited by state or local law.

3. Collection and testing of the exposed employee’s blood for HBV and HIV serological status, which means finding out if the virus is already present in the employee’s blood.

4. Post-exposure prophylaxis, when medically indicated as recommended by the CDC.

5. Counseling: The employer must provide counseling about both the exposure incident and the medical follow-up, and must also provide psychological counseling if it is recommended by the healthcare professional.

6. Evaluation of reported illnesses: The exposed employee should be instructed to report and seek medical evaluation for any acute illness or any illness with a fever that occurs during the follow-up period.

Following the post-exposure follow-up, the health care professional must provide the employer a written opinion including whether the hepatitis B vaccine is indicated and whether the employee received such vaccination. An opinion of what post-exposure evaluation and follow-up is needed. The employer must obtain this report and give a copy to the employee within 15 days after the evaluation is completed.

All other findings or diagnoses must remain confidential and cannot be included in the written report. This provision of confidentiality may become a problem in small medical or dental offices where the employer serves as the health care professional for the employees. Using a physician outside the workplace is recommended in such situations.

Communication of Hazards to Employees:

Labeling requirements:

Warning labels must be placed on containers of regulated waste, refrigerators and freezers containing blood or other potentially infectious materials, and other containers used to store, transport, or ship blood or other potentially infectious materials, with some exceptions as noted below. Labels for contaminated equipment must state which portions of the equipment remain contaminated.

Labels are required to be fluorescent orange or orange-red in color with lettering or symbols in a contrasting color. They are to be attached as close as feasible to the container by string, wire, adhesive or other method that prevents their loss or unintentional removal. Labels must include the following symbol and wording:

Red bags or red containers may be substituted for labels. Labeling is not required for the following:

(1) containers of blood, blood components or blood products that are labeled and have been released for transfusion or other clinical use;

(2) individual containers of blood or other potentially infectious materials that are placed in a labeled larger container during storage, transport, shipment or disposal; and

(3) regulated waste that has been decontaminated.

Training requirements:

Effective training helps to ensure that employees understand the hazards associated with bloodborne pathogens, the modes of transmission, the exposure control plan, the use of engineering controls, work practices and personal protective clothing.

The standard requires that the training be given at the educational level and in the language primarily used by the employees being trained. The training may be specific to different groups being trained. For example, doctors and nurses may require less information on the causes and symptoms of bloodborne pathogens than would laundry workers. All training must take place during working hours, at no cost to the employee, and in a reasonable, accessible location.

Training must be provided at the time of initial employment and at least annually (once a year) after that. When a worker’s job is changed to include different ways to do tasks or procedures, or when new tasks or procedures are added that affect the employee’s occupational exposure, additional training is required. The standard specifies that the person conducting the training must be knowledgeable in the subject matter in the standard as it relates to the workplace where the employee(s) will be working. The employer should document (keep a written record of) training that the trainer has received in the area of bloodborne pathogens, as well as familiarity with the workplace involved.

The following elements must be included in the training program, at a minimum:

1. A copy of the standard must be made available where each employee has access to it. The contents must be explained as part of the training.

2. A general explanation of the causes and symptoms of bloodborne diseases must be given.

3. The program must cover how bloodborne pathogens are communicated from one person to another.

4. The exposure control plan must be explained in a way that each employee can understand it. The plan must be kept available where each employee has access to it.

5. Employees must be given information on the appropriate methods for recognizing tasks and other activities that may involve exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials.

6. The use and limitations of methods that will prevent or reduce exposure must be covered. This instruction must include appropriate engineering controls, work practices and PPE.

7. The employee must be taught the types, proper use, location, removal, handling, decontamination and disposal of personal protective equipment.

8. An explanation must be given of the basis for selection of PPE, so that the employee will be able to judge the best PPE to use in any situation.

9. The hepatitis B vaccine must be explained in detail, including information of the vaccine’s effectiveness, safety, method of administration, the benefits of being vaccinated and the assurance that the vaccine will be offered free of charge to the employee.

10. Affected employees must be instructed on the appropriate actions to take and people to contact in an emergency involving blood or other potentially infectious materials.

11. Procedures to follow in case of an exposure incident must be outlined, including the method of reporting the incident and the medical follow-up that will be made available.

12. Employees must be given information on the post-exposure evaluation and follow-up that must be provided to them following an exposure incident.

13. An explanation of the signs and labels and the color coding required by the standard must be given.

14. The person conducting the training must provide an opportunity for questions and answers on the training. A video, film or written information by itself is not sufficient for this standard. Similarly, computer-based training is not sufficient by itself unless the employee can have questions and concerns answered by a knowledgeable individual at the time that he or she takes the computer based training.

Blood borne Pathogen Post Exposure Procedures:

• Document the route of exposure and exposure event circumstances

• Identify and document the source individual

• Test the source individual’s blood for HBV and HIV as soon as possible.

• Have your blood tested

• Administer post exposure prophylaxes

• Provide counseling.

• Evaluate reported illnesses.

Occupational exposure can occur through:

• Accidental puncture from contaminated needles, broken glass, or other sharps

• Contact between broken or damaged skin and infected body fluids

• Contact between mucous membranes and infected body fluids Anytime there is blood-to-blood contact with infected blood or body fluids, there is a slight potential for transmission. Unbroken skin forms an impervious barrier against bloodborne pathogens. However, infected blood can enter your system through:

• Open sores                                                               

• Cuts

• Abrasions

• Acne

• Any sort of damaged or broken skin such as sunburn or blisters

In an emergency situation involving blood or potentially infectious materials, you should always  use Universal Precautions and try to minimize your exposure by wearing gloves, splash goggles, pocket mouth-to-mouth resuscitation masks, and other barrier devices. Exposure –  If you are exposed, however, you should: Wash the exposed area thoroughly with soap and running water. Use non-abrasive, antibacterial soap if possible. If blood is splashed in the eye or mucous membrane, flush the affected area with running water for at least 15 minutes.

Training Program Minimum Standards:

Materials must be in a language common to employees and appropriate in content and vocabulary to their educational and literacy levels.

The training program needs to contain, at a minimum, the following elements:

• A general explanation of the epidemiology and symptoms of bloodborne diseases.

• An explanation of the modes of transmission of bloodborne pathogens.

• An explanation of the employer’s exposure control plan and the means by which the employee can obtain a copy of the plan.

• An explanation of how to recognize activities that may involve exposure to blood and other potentially infectious material.

• An explanation of the use and limitations of methods that will prevent or reduce exposure, including appropriate engineering controls, work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Information on the types, proper use, location, removal, handling, decontamination and disposal of PPE.

• An explanation of the basis for selecting PPE.

• Information on the efficacy, safety, benefits and method of administration of the Hepatitis B vaccine, and its availability, free of charge, to employees with an occupational hazard exposure.

• Information on the appropriate actions to take and people to contact in an emergency involving blood or other potentially infectious material.

• An explanation of the procedure to follow if an exposure incident occurs, including the method of reporting the incident and the medical follow-up that will be made available.

• Information on the post-exposure evaluation and follow-up that the employer is required to provide for the employee following an exposure incident.

• An explanation of the signs and labels and/or color coding required by 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(1).

• An opportunity for questions and answers with the person conducting the training session.

• An accessible copy of the regulatory text of this standard and an explanation of its contents.

Hazards

Unprotected exposure to body fluids presents the possible risk of infection from a number of bloodborne pathogens notably Hepatitis and HIV. 

Hazard Control

Engineering Controls – prevention of exposure to bloodborne pathogens engineering controls include proper storage facilities and containers, syringes designed to prevent accidental needle sticks, autoclaves and disinfectant equipment.

Administrative Controls – prevention of exposure to bloodborne pathogen administrative controls include universal precautions, assignment of PPE, employee training, use of spill kits specifically designed for blood and body fluids, restricted access to waste collection points and waste disposal procedures.

Recordkeeping:

All recordkeeping must be kept in accordance with Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1910.1020 which governs access to employee exposure and medical records. Upon request, records required by this standard must be made available to the commissioner of labor and to the director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Records must be made available to employees upon request and may also be released to the employees’ representatives. Medical records can be released to people other than an employee only upon that employee’s written consent.

Medical records:

Many diseases, such as silicosis and asbestosis, are found only after many years. Therefore the recordkeeping standard was written to provide medical information about employees even many years after they have left the workplace. It is still not known how long it may be before an infection with the HIV virus becomes AIDS, or whether some people with the virus will ever develop AIDS. Therefore, it seems a wise precaution with this disease to keep such records for a seemingly long period.

The employer must establish and maintain an accurate record for each occupationally exposed employee. These records must be maintained for the period of employment plus 30 years.

The standard requires that the following information be included in the medical record:

1. The name and Social Security number of the employee.

2. A copy of the employee’s hepatitis B vaccination status including the dates of all the hepatitis B vaccinations and any medical records relative to the employee’s ability to receive vaccination.

3. A copy of all results of post-exposure evaluation examinations, medical testing and follow-up procedures.

4. The employer’s copy of the healthcare professional’s written opinion.

5. A copy of the information provided to the healthcare professional.

The employer must ensure that employee medical records are kept confidential and are not disclosed or reported without the employee’s written consent to any person within or outside the workplace except as required by law.

Training records:

Training must be documented in writing. The following information must be included:

1. The dates of the training session.

2. The contents or a summary of the training session.

3. The names and qualifications of people conducting the training.

4. The names and job titles of all people attending the training sessions.

Training records must be maintained for three years from the date on which the training occurred.

Sharps injury log:

Employers who are covered by the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and who are required by Title 29 Part 1904 to maintain occupational injury and illness records must maintain a sharps injury log for recording all percutaneous (skin piercing) injuries from contaminated sharps. The information in the sharps injury log must be recorded and maintained in such a manner as to protect the confidentiality of the injured employee.

The sharps injury log, at a minimum, must contain:

1. The type and brand of device involved in the incident,

2. The department or work area where the exposure occurred, and

3. An explanation of how the incident occurred.

The sharps injury log must be maintained for five years following the year to which it applies.

Medical Wastes:

Medical/infectious waste must be segregated from other waste at the point of origin.

Medical/infectious waste, except for sharps (i.e., razor blades, broken glass, needles, etc.) capable of puncturing or cutting, must be contained in double disposable red bags conspicuously labeled with the words “INFECTIOUS WASTE” and “BIOHAZARD.”

Used needles or other sharps (razor blades, broken glass, scalpels, etc.) must not be sheared, bent, broken, recapped, or resheathed. Infectious sharps must be contained for disposal in leak-proof, rigid puncture-resistant containers. Infectious waste contained as described above must be placed in reusable or disposable leak-proof bins or barrels that are conspicuously labeled with the words “INFECTIOUS WASTE” and “BIOHAZARD.” These waste barrels are picked up regularly by an outside company licensed to handle infectious wastes.

All infectious agents, equipment, or apparatus must be disinfected in an autoclave or otherwise disinfected before being washed or disposed of. Each individual working with infectious bio-hazardous agents is responsible for dis-infection and disposal of these agents.

Biological wastes that do not contain radioactive or hazardous substances may be disinfected by steam sterilization (autoclave) then disposed of in the regular trash.

Liquid bio-hazardous waste may be disposed of in the sewage system following chemical decontamination. Reusable glassware must be decontaminated in sodium hypo chlorite (household bleach) solution (1:9) prior to rinsing and acid washing. The glassware must then be sterilized in an autoclave.

To minimize the hazard to firefighters or emergency response personnel, at the close of each work day and before the building is closed, all infectious or toxic material must be placed in a refrigerator, placed in an incubator, or autoclaved or otherwise disinfected.

Infectious agents must not be placed in an autoclave and left overnight in anticipation of auto claving the next day. Floors, laboratory benches, and other surfaces in buildings where infectious agents are handled must be disinfected with a suitable germicide, such as 1:9 sodium hypo chloride solution (household bleach) as often as necessary as determined by the supervisor.

The surroundings must be disinfected after completion of operations involving planting, pipetting, centrifuging, and similar procedures with infectious agents. Infectious agents must not be dumped into the building drainage system without prior disinfection.

Cuts

If an employee has a needle stick, cut, or mucous membrane exposure to another persons body fluids he/she must report the incident immediately to the Company Nurse. Blood Exposure All employees exposed to human blood and blood products must report to the Company Nurse for information and possible inclusion in the Hepatitis B Immunization Program.

Infection Control Plan

The purpose of the Infection Control Plan is to protect the health and safety of the persons directly involved in handling the materials, Company personnel and the general public by ensuring the safe handling, storage, use, processing, and disposal of infectious medical waste. This plan complies with OSHA requirement proposed for 29 CFR 1910.1030, Blood borne Pathogens.

Universal precautions: Refers to a system of infectious disease control which assumes that every direct contact with body fluids is infectious and requires every employee exposed to be protected as though such body fluids were infected with blood-borne pathogens. All infectious/medical material must be handled according to Universal Precautions (OSHA Instruction CPL 2-2.44A).

The following universal precautions must be taken.

1. Gloves must be made of appropriate disposable material, usually intact latex or vinyl. They must be used:

• when the employee has cuts, abraded skin, chapped hands, dermatitis, or the like.

• when examining abraded or non-intact skin of a patient with active bleeding. c. while handling blood or blood products or other body secretions during routine procedures.

2. Gowns, aprons, or lab coats must be worn when splashes of body fluid on skin or clothing are possible.

3. Mask and eye protection are required when contact of mucosal membranes (eyes, mouth or nose) with body.

Click here to download the blood borne control plan audit check sheet

Introduction:

Biomedical waste originates from human or animal health care, medical research, medical teaching facilities, funeral establishments, laboratories and other facilities. A portion of that waste stream is infectious or potentially infectious and presents a potential hazard to the public health and the environment.

Infectious or potentially infectious biomedical waste is a contaminant under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and must be managed as a hazardous waste.

The objective of these guidelines is:

• To provide uniform standards for the segregation, management and disposal of infectious or potentially infectious biomedical waste.

• To reduce the incidence of health care worker and the public from contacting a disease or injury from biomedical waste.

• To provide guidance to the health care system on the opportunities for waste minimization and the reduction of air contamination from incineration of biomedical waste.

Medical/bio hazardous waste is defined as waste that requires inactivation of the biological material in an approved manner prior to final disposal, and includes but is not limited to the following discarded items:

• Human cells and tissues
• Organisms or cells with recombination DNA
• Cultures and stocks of infectious agents
• Potentially infectious agents (e.g., bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions)
• Biological material that may contain potentially infectious agents
• Toxins (e.g., snake venom)
• Live and attenuated vaccines
• Blood, blood products, and other potentially infectious materials that may contain human blood-borne pathogens
• Carcasses and tissues
• Soil, plants, and pathogens controlled by the agriculture department.
• Lab ware and other items that have come into contact with the aforementioned waste steams (e.g., contaminated plastic pipettes, pipette tips, petri dishes, centrifuge tubes, tubes, disposable gloves, and wipes)

Definitions:

Many terms are used to identify and characterize biomedical waste, such as: bio hazardous, pathological, and infectious. These terms are often used interchangeably without clearly defining their subtle differences and similarities. To assist the reader these terms are defined below. For the purpose of this document biomedical waste will be used as the general term. Where the waste may be defined more specifically and require special treatment, this procedure will specify the requirements.

Bio hazardous waste:

Waste that is known or suspected to contain infectious material or which because of its physical or biological nature may be harmful to humans, animals, plants or the environment

Infectious waste:

Waste which contains microorganisms in sufficient quantity which could result in the multiplication and growth of those microorganisms in a host.

Pathological waste:

Any waste which contains microorganisms capable of causing disease.

Agent

A pathogen that can cause human or animal disease including bacteria, mycoplasma, fungi, viruses and parasites.

Autoclave

A device that uses high-pressure, high temperature steam sterilization for the destruction of bacteria, spores and other infection-causing organisms.

a) Human Anatomical Waste

This consists of human tissues, organs, and body parts, but does not include teeth, hair, and nails.

b) Animal Waste

This consists of all animal tissues, organs, body parts, carcasses, bedding, fluid blood and blood products, items saturated or dripping with blood, body fluids contaminated with blood, and body fluids removed for diagnosis or removed during surgery, treatment or autopsy, unless a trained person has certified that the waste does not contain the viruses and agents listed in Risk Group 4 (see table 1). This excludes teeth, hair, nails, hooves, and feathers.

c) Microbiology Laboratory Waste

This consists of Laboratory cultures, stocks or specimens of microorganisms, live or attenuated vaccines, human or animal cell cultures used in research, and laboratory material that has come into contact with any of these.

d) Human Blood and Body Fluid waste

This consists of human fluid blood and blood products, items saturated or dripping with blood, body fluids contaminated with blood, and body fluids removed for diagnosis during surgery, treatment or autopsy. This does not include urine or feces.

e) Waste Sharps

Waste sharps are clinical and laboratory materials consisting of needles, syringes, blades, or laboratory glass capable of causing punctures or cuts.

f) Cytotoxic Waste

The term is commonly used to refer to pharmaceuticals used in treating cancer, e.g., antineoplastics or chemotherapy agents.

Biomedical waste does not include waste that is:

• from animal husbandry;

• household in origin;

• controlled in accordance with the Health of Animals Act

• generated in the food production, general building maintenance, and office administration activities of those facilities to which this applies.

Biomedical Waste Generators:

The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), makes it mandatory that all hazardous substances, including microorganisms, e.g., those used in research or other pursuits, be labelled in a specified manner and that a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) be available to accompany each hazardous substance. Currently, the requirements of WHMIS do not apply to waste materials. All such Acts require the employer to provide information, instruction, and supervision to workers to protect their health and safety, and take every reasonable precaution in  circumstances to protect the worker. Employers must provide all training necessary to work with hazardous substances and must keep a written record of their employee education program.

Policies and Procedures:

Workers handling and disposing of biomedical waste are at potential risk of exposure to infection from sharps-related accidents or when containers of waste burst open and leak, or spills of certain waste materials occur. Facilities and organizations responsible for waste handling and disposal should take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of exposure to infection by establishing written policies and procedures based upon the most currently accepted clinical and occupational health and safety information. Workers handling and disposing of biomedical waste should participate in the preparation of these policies and procedures. Policies and procedures should be reviewed and updated regularly, with compliance to their requirements verified as necessary.

Employee training programs must emphasize the following:

• personal hygiene, especially washing hands;

• the facility’s procedures for the reduction, segregation, collection, packaging, color coding, labeling, storage, and in-house movement of waste;

• methods for preventing the transmission of infections related to waste-handling procedures;

•  the hazards of those materials to which workers may be exposed; and

• the actions to be taken and which supervisory staff should be notified in the event of an accident.

Employee training programs should be continually assessed and reinforced, and their content periodically reviewed and updated as necessary. Consideration should be given to adapting the training programs to suit personnel who may not be fluent in the official language of predominant use or who may not be fully literate.

Color-coding and Labelling:

Containers for biomedical waste must be colour-coded as shown in Table 2 and labelled with the bio hazard symbol .This must be implemented as part of each health care facility’s biomedical waste management program.

Waste Type Color-coding

Human Anatomical ———RED

Animal Waste—————-ORANGE

Microbiology Laboratory Waste—–YELLOW

Human Blood and Body Fluid Waste (if applicable)——-YELLOW

Waste Sharps——YELLOW

Containers for biomedical waste must be color-coded by:

dyeing the entire container in the appropriate color; encircling the outer surface of the container with a band of color not less than 50 mm wide; or other methods to ensure staff recognition. If a sharps container is mounted in a cabinet or some other type of holder, only the actual sharps container must be color coded and labelled with the bio hazard and cytotoxic symbols, as appropriate. The outer cabinet or holder must, however, be labelled as containing sharps, using the words “CAUTION: WASTE SHARPS”, or an equivalent.

Bio hazardous Waste Labels, Bags, and Containers

Medical/bio hazardous waste generated must be disposed of in bio hazardous waste bags, as discussed in detail in the following sections. Bio hazardous waste bags must be placed in labeled bio hazardous waste containers.

Bio hazardous Waste Labels:

Bio hazardous waste labels with either the words “Bio hazardous Waste,” or with a bio hazard symbol and the word “Bio hazard” (see Figure -1) must be placed on bio hazardous waste containers.

Figure-1. A bio hazardous waste label with the bio hazard symbol.

Bio hazardous Waste Bags:

Bio hazardous waste bags must be either RED or clear (orange bags are not allowed) and labeled with either the words “Bio hazardous Waste,” or with a bio hazard symbol and the word “Bio hazard.” These bags must be disposable and impervious to moisture, and have strength sufficient to preclude ripping, tearing, or bursting under normal conditions of usage and handling.

Red bio hazard bags must be used for regulated Medical Waste, which is regulated by the Department of Public Health (DPH). Regulated Medical Waste is generated or produced as a result of any of the following:

• Diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals

• Research pertaining to treatment, diagnosis, or immunization of human beings or animals or

• The production of biological

Red bio hazard bags are used to line all medical/bio hazard containers in laboratories where any regulated medical waste is produced, and red bio hazard bags are used to line all pickup containers provided by the disposal contractor. Use of red bio hazard bags is identified in the Bio safety Work Authorization. If a room uses red bio hazard bags, it will be assumed the waste is regulated and must conform to the red-bag requirements listed after the bio hazardous/medical waste disposal flowchart shown in Figure 2.

Clear bio hazard bags are used for bio hazardous waste that is not regulated by the Department of Public Health (DPH) but may be regulated by other bio safety standards. A laboratory can use clear bio hazard bags only when the Bio safety Work Authorization has identified a laboratory’s bio hazardous waste as non-regulated waste.

Red bio hazard bag          Clear bio hazard bag. 

The color of a bio hazardous bag is used to differentiate between DPH-regulated bio hazardous waste (red), and non-DPH-regulated bio hazardous waste that may be regulated by other standards (clear). The color of the bag does not indicate the level of biological risk or final treatment.

Biohazardous/Medical waste disposal flow chart

Figure – 2

Segregation:

Whether the method of disposal is on-site or off-site, biomedical waste must be segregated from the general waste stream. If biomedical waste is mixed with general refuse, the total waste stream would require special treatment and handling. Waste segregation relies on the waste being segregated at its point of generation and placed into appropriate waste containers. Segregation permits facilities to effectively divert those materials that are recyclable, require special handling or disposal.

Biomedical waste must be segregated at the point of generation into the following waste categories: human anatomical waste; animal waste; microbiology laboratory waste; human blood and body fluid waste; and waste sharps.

Packaging:

Waste must be safely contained during handling and to the point of its disposal. The packaging must remain intact throughout handling, storage, transportation, and treatment. When selecting packaging, the following factors should be considered: the type of waste being contained; appropriate colour-coding and labelling (see color coding section ); special transportation requirements; the method of disposal; transport requirements; and requirements of the disposal facility.

To simplify their selection and use, waste containers should be classified as reusable or single-use/disposable.

Reusable Containers:

Reusable waste containers must be made of metal or rigid plastic and able to withstand exposure to common cleaning agents. They must be colour-coded according to the type of waste for which they are intended ; and labelled with the biohazard symbol (Figure 1).

Reusable waste containers should be inspected for holes or leaks each time they are emptied and their colour coding and labelling renewed if necessary. Holes or leaks must be repaired or the waste container replaced. Reusable waste containers must be cleaned regularly to prevent odours and as soon as possible if waste materials leak or spill within the containers.

Single-use Containers:

Single-use waste containers should be classified as one of the following types: sharps container; waste-holding plastic bag; or cardboard container.

Sharps Containers – The critical characteristic of any sharps container is that it be sturdy enough to resist puncture under conditions of use and to the point of disposal. Until a method is devised to determine this objectively, sharps containers should be tested and evaluated under actual conditions of use.

Storage of Biomedical Waste:

After biomedical waste has been collected and moved from its point of generation, it may be held in storage areas to await disposal. These storage areas must be totally enclosed, and separate from supply rooms or food preparation areas. They must be lockable and access must be restricted to authorized personnel. Storage areas must be identified as containing biomedical waste, with the biohazard symbol clearly displayed. It is unacceptable for materials other than waste to be placed in the same storage area as biomedical waste.

Floors, walls, and ceilings of storage areas must be thoroughly cleaned in accordance with the facility’s established procedures. These procedures should be prepared in consultation with the facility’s infection control committee, biosafety officer, or other appointed person(s).

Anatomical wastes must be stored at 4oC or lower. All biomedical waste must be refrigerated at 4oC or lower if stored for more than four days. Health care facilities should determine the maximum storage time of refrigerated or frozen biomedical waste based upon its storage capacity and rate of waste generation.

Facilities refrigerating or freezing stored waste should use a lockable, closed cold storage facility or a lockable, domestic type freezer unit. Either type must be used only for storing biomedical waste, visibly display the biohazard symbol, and be identified as containing biomedical waste.

Contingency plans must be prepared for storing refrigerated biomedical waste if excess waste is produced, or if either refrigeration or disposal facilities or equipment become in operative.

The compaction or shredding of untreated biomedical waste is not permitted unless the compactor or shredder is an integral part of the incinerator and completely sealed.

In-house Movement of Wastes:

The handling and transport of waste containers should be minimized to reduce the likelihood of exposure to the waste.

Careful selection of waste containers greatly reduces the likelihood of breakage and leakage during use. In anticipation of such accidents occurring, however, a materialhandling system should be devised to minimize the possibility of inadvertent exposure by limiting the amount of handling. Specific routes must be planned through the facility to minimize the passage of loaded carts through patient care and other clean areas.

To minimize the possibility of waste handlers incurring injuries while handling filled waste containers, the facility’s health and safety committee, biomedical waste management committee or other appointed person(s) should establish size and weight criteria for the waste loads.

Carts used for moving biomedical waste through the health care facility should be designed to prevent spills, and made of materials able to withstand exposure to common cleaning agents.

These carts must be thoroughly cleaned before any maintenance work is performed on them. They should be cleaned regularly to prevent odours and as soon as possible if waste materials leak or spill in the carts.

The facility’s infection control committee, biosafety officer, or other appointed person(s) should be consulted about the frequency of cleaning and the type of cleaning agent tobe used.

Laboratory Biohazardous Waste Containers:

Biohazardous waste containers (Figure-3) must be rigid and leakproof, and must have a tight-fitting lid. Containers with foot pedals to open and close the lid are preferred. The containers may be any color, but they must be labeled with either the words “Biohazardous Waste,” or with a biohazard symbol and the word “Biohazard.” The labels must be placed on both the lid and the sides of the container. The labels must be visible from all sides of the container. In addition, biological materials of human origin that are covered by the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard must be placed in red containers, or in containers that have fluorescent orange or orange-red biohazard labels.

Figure-3- A biohazardous waste container.

Biohazardous waste containers must be lined with biohazardous waste bags before adding the waste. The labels on the container must be visible once a biohazardous waste bag is added. In general, lids should be used to prevent the spread of potentially infectious agents or material. The lid should be kept closed on the container whenever waste is not being actively added to the bag. At a minimum, the lid must be on the container during breaks, lunch, and at the end of each workday. Small countertop containers lined with clear bags (used for nonregulated biohazardous waste) can be used and kept uncovered. Larger containers lined with clear biohazard bags should be covered as a best-management practice.

Medical/Biohazardous Waste Pickup Containers:

The waste is collected from specified containers called pickup containers (Figure-4). The pickup containers are supplied by the medical/biohazardous waste subcontractor and are usually gray in color, except for red pathology containers, which are discussed later. They are prelabeled with biohazard symbols and the word “Biohazard.” Medical/biohazardous waste collected in laboratory waste containers (red-bagged or clear-bagged) must be transferred to these pickup containers for pickup. Laboratory waste in red bags must be transferred weekly. Laboratory waste in clear bags need only be transferred when the bag is full, when there is a noxious odor, or when continued accumulation may present a biohazard to personnel.

Figure-4 Medical/ biohazardous waste pickup containers

Solid Medical/Biohazardous Waste Disposal:

This section describes the procedure that must be followed when transporting waste from laboratory medical/biohazardous waste containers to medical waste pickup containers. This includes moving medical/biohazardous waste more than a few feet within a room.

Wear and use personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriately when handling medical/biohazardous waste (Figure -5). Wear PPE (e.g., lab coat, gloves, safety glasses) to prevent potential contact with and exposure to infectious material. In addition, prevent the spread of infectious material by:

a) changing gloves that have been used or may be contaminated,

b) not touching doorknobs or other “clean” surfaces with gloved hands, and

c) washing hands after removing gloves.

Seal the biohazard bag closed (tape, rubber band, etc.). Carry the biohazard bag to the nearest medical waste pickup container (Figure -6). The bio hazard bag must be secondarily contained during transport in a labeled biohazard container with a lid.

This is a necessary precaution, should the bag leak. Remove the biohazard bag and deposit it into the pickup container. The pickup container must be lined with a red biohazard bag. Close the lid on the pickup container after adding the waste.

Note: Do not overfill the gray pickup containers. The lid must be able to fully close. Start a new one if necessary. Wash your hands after removing your gloves.

Figure -5                                    Figure -6

Liquid Medical/Biohazardous Waste Disposal:

Many liquid medical/biohazardous wastes (e.g., cell cultures or blood) that are not chemical hazardous waste or radioactive waste can be sufficiently decontaminated and then poured down a sanitary sewer drain (e.g., laboratory sink drain).

Remember the waste must not be defined as chemically hazardous or radioactive before drain disposal or cause a violation of the wastewater permit discharge limits. Contact the Environmental Services Group for assistance with this type of waste.

Decontaminate and dispose of liquid medical/biohazardous waste as follows:

1.      Add household bleach to the liquid to be decontaminated until a 10% (1:10) concentration of the household bleach is achieved.

2.      Allow the bleach to remain in contact with the liquid waste material for approximately 20 minutes.

3.      Dispose of the decontaminated liquid medical/biohazardous waste down the sanitary sewer drain.

Figure -7 To disinfect your liquid waste, create a 10% concentration of household bleach
in the liquid waste.

Disposal According to Type of Waste:

Human Anatomical Waste

Human anatomical waste, consisting of human tissues, organs, and body parts, but excluding teeth, hair, and nails, must be incinerated in a biomedical waste incinerator or destroyed in a crematorium incinerator.

Animal Waste

Most animal waste, with the exception of teeth,hair, nails, hooves,and feathers, should be incinerated in a biomedical waste incinerator. This includes all animal tissues, organs, body parts, carcasses, bedding, fluid blood and blood products, items saturated or dripping with blood, body fluids contaminated with blood,and body fluids removed for diagnosis or removed during surgery, treatment or autopsy, unless a trained person certifies that the waste does not contain the viruses and agents listed.

Microbiology Laboratory Waste

Microbiology laboratory waste consisting of laboratory cultures, stocks or specimens of microorganisms; live or attenuated vaccines; human or animal cell cultures used in research; and laboratory material that has come into contact with the above, must be incinerated, autoclaved, or chemically disinfected.

Human Blood and Body Fluid Waste

Except for those wastes associated with the exotic communicable diseases, fluid human blood and blood products, body fluids contaminated with blood, and body fluids removed for diagnosis or removed during surgery, treatment or autopsy, but excluding urine or feces, may be poured down the sanitary sewer after steam autoclave or chemical decontamination. The approval of the community works department and local Health Board is required. If approved, the treated waste should be carefully poured down a drain connected to the sanitary sewer.

When handling these fluids, care must be taken to eliminate spills and the formation of aerosols. At no time should these fluids be disposed of to the storm sewer.

Waste Sharps:

Clinical and laboratory materials consisting of needles, syringes, blades, or laboratory glass capable of causing punctures or cuts (referred to as waste sharps), must be incinerated. They may be autoclaved or chemically disinfected prior to incineration. When autoclaved, sharps containers must remain functionally intact at high autoclaving temperatures.

Mercury in Dental Amalgams:

Dentist offices routinely generate waste or excess dental amalgam from dental repairs. Disposal of this mercury containing amalgam into the sanitary sewer or municipal refuse collection system is an unacceptable practice. Environmental conditions at sewage lagoons or landfill can react with the amalgam and release the mercury into the environment.

Mouth wash and aspiration equipment should be equipped with ISO certified amalgam traps capable of a 95% capture rate. Maintenance of the mercury traps is also important to ensure collected mercury does not overload the collection system defeating the cost and installation of the equipment. Efforts should also be made to replace dental amalgam with non-mercury composite materials, where possible, to reduce amalgam waste.

All amalgam collected from dental offices must be managed as a hazardous waste. Disposal of articles contaminated with or containing mercury by any means other than shipment to an approved chemical management facility, mercury recycler or the product manufacturer is in contravention of the EPA.

Housekeeping:

Good housekeeping means cleanliness and good order of equipment and facilities in a workplace. It  needs planning and co-operation. Housekeeping is the first step towards good occupational hygiene  practice.

Cleanliness:

Regular cleaning of workplaces, equipment and devices should be carried out to ensure an adequate  level of workplace hygiene. A designated person should be assigned the responsibility to oversee  such operations.

Rubbish or waste should be kept in suitable containers or litter-bins which are located at convenient locations in the workplace. The containers should be emptied daily, preferably near the end of each working day. Accumulation of dirt and refuse within the workplaces must be avoided. They should be  removed with a suitable method from the floor or work benches regularly with  frequency compatible with the nature of the work conducted. Floor cleaning can be done by washing, sweeping, vacuum cleaning or other appropriate means.

Floor covering materials should be suitable for the work and easy to clean.

The conditions of housekeeping can be easily assessed by visual observations. Records of  maintenance work must be kept for evaluation of the performance, including information on the responsible person(s), contact and date/time of the action taken.

Tidiness:

Tidiness improves work performance and reduces accident. Equipment, tools, containers and small items on work benches should be kept neat and arranged in an orderly fashion. Sufficient space for storage of articles and goods is important.

The tools and material should be kept neat and in an orderly  fashion.

Accident prevention:

The occurrence of accidents in a workplace could lead to damage to employees’ health and in severe cases death. Precautions must be taken when dangerous substances are stored or used.  Containers should be clearly labelled and the labels easily visible. Regular maintenance and checking of the equipment and devices can reduce risks. The storage and disposal of chemicals or hazardous wastes should be done carefully. Accidental spillage and spread of waste or  contaminants can be avoided through proper assignment of duties, instruction, training and good housekeeping.

• Chemicals without proper labeling may be misused and cause tragedy.

• A properly designed label provides readily available information which will prevent mishaps.

General ventilation:

Ventilation is the process of supplying and removing air by natural or mechanical means to and from a workplace. The term “natural ventilation” covers both the uncontrolled inward air leakage through cracks, windows, door ways and vents (infiltration) as well as the air leaving the room (ex filtration) through the same routes. Infiltration and ex filtration are often affected by the weather and are beyond control.

As a consequence, it is not feasible to rely upon natural ventilation to control emissions of dust and fumes. However, modest heat loads and very lowest emissions of gases and vapors could be effectively controlled by this system.

Mechanical or forced ventilation is provided by air movers or fans in a system such as a window mounted exhaust fan. It promotes the supply as well as the exhaust airflow.

Provision of fresh air supply:

It is essential to ensure that adequate ventilation is provided to a workplace, especially in an enclosed building. General ventilation is designed to provide fresh air for breathing by the occupants, control of thermal conditions and keeping the air free from contaminants (such as tobacco smoke, body odor and other air-borne contaminants). The fresh air intake points of aventilation system should be away from any source of contaminants. Filtration or cleaning of the incoming air before being supplied to a workplace is recommended.

In the planning stage of a building , the ventilation design should meet the minimum requirements of the Building (Ventilating Systems) Regulations. The Labour Department has also published a booklet called “Guidance Notes on Ventilation & Maintenance of Ventilation Systems” from which employers and employees can also find useful information for design of a work process and improvement of their ventilation system.

The fresh air supply rate required for a workplace varies with the nature of the activities and the degree of occupancy.

Monitoring of the ventilation system:

In a workplace without a specific source of contamination, the adequacy of ventilation can be measured indirectly with a carbon dioxide index method. As the concentration of carbon dioxide increase with human activities, background levels of other contaminants also increase. Carbon dioxide level frequently exceeding 1000 ppm (although carbon dioxide at such level is not a health concern) could be a useful indicator for review of the fresh air supply rate, distribution and  the activities going on, especially when there is a complaint.

Carbon dioxide can be measured with either a direct-reading meter or detector tube kit. The relative occupancy, air damper setting and weather should be noted for each period of carbon dioxide measurement. The measurement should be made when concentration are expected to peak. If the occupant population is fairly stable during normal business hours, carbon dioxide levels will typically rise during the morning, fall during the lunch period, then rise again, reaching a peak in mid afternoon. In this case, sampling in the mid- to late-afternoon is recommended. It is helpful to compare measurement taken at different times of a day. Other sampling times may be necessary for different occupancy schedules. Individual measurements may be short-term .

Precautions in taking the measurement:

• measured away from any source that could directly influence the reading (e.g., hold the sampling device away from exhaled breath).
• preferably measured at head height.

Thermal conditions:

Thermal conditions for enclosed workplaces should be commensurate with the activities in the area. The factors affecting these conditions include air temperature, humidity and air movement.

In naturally ventilated workplaces, for the best productivity / relative comfort, the optimum effective temperature (footnote) is below 27
. For workplaces where room temperature control is difficult and where the effective temperature is likely to significantly exceed the recommended value, heat stress problems are likely and should be assessed. When continuous strenuous work is required to be carried out in a hot environment, other improvements should also be considered, including for example, suitable clothing, activity break period, supply of drinking water etc.

In an indoor work environment, the lower air temperature is preferably maintained at 16
or above.

For air-conditioned workplaces, when the range of room temperature for normal activities can be maintained between 20
- 26
, and relative humidity between 40% and 70%, the conditions are usually satisfactory. It provides optimum comfort and restricts the growth of micro-organisms. The upper temperature range of 23
– 26
is preferable for summer and the lower temperature range of 20
- 24
is for winter. Supply of fresh air to an airconditioned area is particularly important as most of the indoor air is being re-circulated through the system. Maintenance of the system is also required because it often becomes the source of contamination when not properly maintained.

The installation of artificial ventilation should not expose employees to draughts which may cause discomfort. Similar problem may occur when the pressure among workrooms are not well balanced.

Control of biological contaminants:

In practical terms, employers have a duty to undertake proper house-keeping to avoid biological contamination and mould/bacteria growth inside buildings.The proper maintenance of the air conditioning system and fresh air supply can remove unpleasant odour and may prevent air-borne diseases.

For clinics, hospitals and health care institutions, there should be additional requirements for proper disposal of clinical wastes and adequate facilities, and proper systems for control of biological contaminants. In some situations, the employer or management should have an operating manual so that his employees can follow the instructions carefully.

Physical barriers:

Hazardous operations (e.g. a printing job being done in an office) should be separated from other activities by physical barriers partially or completely to prevent the spread and accumulation of air-borne contaminants into the normal working area. Other means of control should be provided in the (printing) area for the protection of the employees.

Mechanical ventilation:

To prevent accumulation of air-borne contaminants in the work area, mechanical exhaust ventilation is required to remove the impurities in air and to discharge them properly. Sufficient make-up air should be provided to facilitate the removal of contaminated air.

Local exhaust ventilation:

In specially hazardous operations, a local exhaust system may be required to effectively control atmospheric contamination at its source. A local exhaust system should normally contain an enclosing hood, ducting, an air cleaner and an exhaust fan.

To ensure effective control, the hood opening should be installed and used as close as reasonably practicable to the source of contaminants. The arrangement of positioning the hood so that it can enclose or confine the contaminant is recommended.

A local exhaust hood should enclose the source of contamination as far as practicable.

If installation of a fixed local exhaust system is not feasible, a mobile system with a suitable filter should be considered.

Lighting:

Daylight is the best and cheapest source of illumination. It can reduce energy costs but should be planned in the early stage of building design to maximize its application (Please refer also to the Building (Planning) Regulations for the minimum requirements) Making improvements in the later stage may be costly.

The distribution of light in a workplace can be improved by using more daylight. To get more daylight, people may rearrange their work orientation or the location of machines, or increase the size of windows or have windows placed higher up to take advantage of more daylight.

Windows and openings may be protected from direct sunlight by curtains or blinds to avoid glare and direct heat from the sun.

The use of artificial light and natural light is complementary. Their combined use is most economical and effective. It creates a sense of openness.

Lighting provision:

In workplaces, the artificial lighting provided should be such that there is no risk of accident to all employees (too dim), nor should it be damaging to their eyesight such as causing glare (too bright) or visual fatigue.

• When the intensity of lighting in a workplace is insufficient, the first consideration on improvement is to use light colors for walls and ceilings to increase the amount of reflected light. A white surface can have over 80% – 90% reflective. A pale tint for walls can have reflective up to 50 – 85%.

• Sufficient lighting improves employees comfort and performance. Combining the use of natural light and artificial lighting is the best mode.

• Old people need more light. For example, an employee aged 60 needs five times more
  light to read a printed text than a 20-year-old one.

The time available for viewing the task affects the requirement of lighting too. The higher the speed of the task is, the higher the lighting level should be. Local lighting is recommended for precision or inspection work. Local lights that are easy to move and arrange in the desired positions are recommended.

Glare effect:

Glare effect can cause discomfort (often from reflective surfaces) and reduced visibility (often from a broad band source of white light perceived when facing a window). It reduces the ability to see and should be eliminated. A comfortable workplace should have no glare.

• Glossy or shiny materials or paint for wall and surfaces should be avoided to prevent indirect glare.

• Sometimes, the desk top may reflect the light sources at the ceiling or at the front to the users. To avoid the indirect glare effect, you may have to re-arrange the position of the work station or relocate light sources or provide shields to eliminate the problem.

• Direct glare can be removed by avoiding bright light sources falling within the normal field of vision. Mounting local lights high enough and shading them well to hide all bulbs can improve the situation. The use of naked light bulbs or fluorescent tubes is not recommended.

• The glare effect from windows or neighbouring work stations can affect visibility. It can be prevented by using curtains, blinds, partitions or desk-top partitions.

• Lighting provision at higher positions gives better dispersion and prevents glare.

• Older people are more sensitive to glare. They often need better lighting arrangements.

Contrast:

Changing the view from a bright area to a dark area demands adaption of the eyes. It takes time and is often tiring if the difference (contrast) is significant. It is recommended that the contrast between the job (target) and the immediate background should be no more than 10:3, and that between the target and its surrounding environment should be no more than 10:1.

The workplace should be lit up gently and evenly to minimize changes in brightness. Sharp shadows on the work surface are a reason for poor performance, eye strain,fatigue and sometimes accidents. Shadow zones should be eliminated by providing good distribution of lights as well as enhancing reflection from the walls and the ceiling.

In case there is a bright light source falling within the normal field of vision, the contrast can be reduced by providing more light for the environment.

Floors and drainage:

Some activities in a workplace are liable to make the floors or wall surfaces wet. An effective drainage system should be provided so that water can be removed and drained quickly from the floor. This prevents the floor from causing slips and accidents, and reduces the flourishing growth of mould and other micro-organisms.

Floor condition:

The floor should be maintained clean, stable and non-slippery. For workplaces where wetting of the floor is unavoidable, the tiles should be made of non-slippery material. Alternatively, a foot platform may be provided for employees to stay away from the wet surface. Moreover, the drainage should be well maintained and under no circumstances should dirt be allowed to accumulate underneath the platform or the corners of the shop floor.

Lavatories and washing facilities:

Suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences and wash basins should be provided at readily accessible places. They are supposed to be adjacent to but separate from other sanitary facilities such as changing rooms and shower facilities.

• Sanitary facilities should be provided for men and women separately.
• The facilities must be maintained tidy, clean and hygienic. Daily cleaning is recommended.
• The number of water closets and related facilities for employees should follow the recommendations in the Building

The conditions of cleanliness of the sanitary facilities should be inspected regularly (e.g. weekly) by an appointed personnel. Breakdowns of the units, blockage of the pipes or leakage should be reported immediately for repair. The records should be counter-checked and signed by the management or a responsible person.

Changing rooms and shower facilities:

When the activities in the workplace are likely to produce bodily contamination, an adequate, suitable and secure place should be provided for employees to store their own clothing and work clothing.

Changing rooms should be equipped with lockers. To maintain good personal hygiene, showers with hot and cold or warm water supply are required and should be readily accessible from work rooms.

When a highly dangerous operation is carried out in a workplace, an emergency shower or eye washers should be provided at suitable locations. All the facilities should be properly maintained and be kept sanitary for use in emergency situations.

Drinking water supply:

Employers have a duty to provide an adequate supply of drinking water. Good drinking facilities and rest places can do much to prevent fatigue and to maintain employees’ health. It is especially important in a hot environment.

The supply of drinking water facilities or wholesome drinking water such as tap water or drinking fountains should be easy to access. However, such facilities should not be near dangerous machines nor contamination sources, nor in washrooms or toilets.

Bottled drinking water or other beverages can be alternatives to drinking water facilities. They are hygienic and require the least maintenance.

In a hot environment or summer, it isimportant to provide cool water. If there is no water cooling device, the water containers can be placed in a cool location of the workplace.

Clikc the below link to download the industrial hygiene check sheet

Checklist for Industrial Hygiene Walkthrough