OSHA has revised its Hazardous Communication Standard (HCS) to help protect workers and to ensure that American businesses can remain competitive in the global marketplace.Why did the Hazard Communication Standard change?Previous to the change, OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard...

OSHA set a December 1, 2013 deadline for employers to train employees on the new Globally Harmonized System (GHS) system requirements, but if you haven’t already, that doesn’t mean it’s too late. Here’s what you need to know about the changes, and a guide to training your employees...

Architects and designers have transformed hospitals into welcoming environments designed to promote health and healing. But when it comes to great hospital design, it’s important to remember that it’s often the details that make all the difference. When it comes to patient health,...

Architects and designers have transformed hospitals into welcoming environments designed to promote health and healing. But when it comes to great hospital design, it’s important to remember that it’s often the details that make all the difference. When it comes to patient health,...

Patients’ health and safety is at the forefront of healthcare goals, but oftentimes risks for hospital-acquired infections are not addressed until construction on a facility has already started, or an infection has broken out. Infection control actually starts in the design of a...

Legionella bacterium is water-based organism that can cause a deadly infection called Legionnaire’s Disease if inhaled. Legionella Pneumophila (Legionella bacterium)  is known to prosper in environments where standing water is present, such as tanks, reservoirs and areas of piping...

An effective Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Plan is an essential step to protect workers from workplace hazards. According to OSHA, PPE are “designed to protect workers from serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical,...

The 2014 FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Facilities are undergoing final reviews and will be available January 2014.Recently, the topic of preventing infection through design, material selection and modified building practices has been of...

An Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) is an essential step in limiting the acquisition and transmission of infections in a healthcare environment. According to The Joint Commission, an ICRA needs to be conducted when significant changes in the environment, community or patient...

The first step in determining whether there are industrial hygiene risks in your workplace is to have an experienced industrial hygienist conduct a qualitative risk assessment. They will take into account everything from the building ventilation to the workflow and products...