Employee Exposure to Biohazards: OSHA’s Stance on Consumption of Food and Beverages at Nursing Stations
The battle of administration and nurses on the consumption of food and beverages at nursing stations in healthcare facilities has been ongoing for years; because of the possibility of contamination of bloodborne pathogens and/or other potentially infectious materials. I’ve recently been asked if the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets a standard on consumption of food and beverages at nursing stations. While some employees may state that beverages at the nursing station have a lid or cover, the container may also become contaminated, resulting in unsuspected contamination of the hands. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "The estimated risk of HIV infection from a sharps injury is about 0.3 percent (1 in 300). The CDC has reported 57 documented cases and 140 possible cases of…