SAFETY & OSHA
What does OSHA stand for?
Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
What is body mechanics?
Positions and movements used to maintain proper posture and avoid muscle and bone injuries.
What are pathogens?
Microorganisms that cause disease.
How many elements make up the chain of infection?
Six
What are five common signs of a local infection?
Redness, swelling, tenderness, warmth, and drainage.
What document must be available for chemicals handled at a healthcare facility?
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
What is a base of support?
Proper standing posture with feet flat and about 6–10 inches apart, back straight, and knees slightly flexed.
What are microorganisms that grow best in the absence of oxygen called?
Anaerobic microbes.
What is a reservoir in the chain of infection?
The place where microorganisms live.
What is medical asepsis also called?
Clean technique.
Who should you notify about an unsafe practice?
A charge nurse or supervisor
When lifting an object, which part of your body should do most of the work: your legs or your back?
Your legs
Name the method that uses a solution on skin to prevent or inhibit pathogen growth.
Antiseptics
What is a fomite?
A nonliving material that houses microorganisms.
What is surgical asepsis also called?
Sterile technique.
Name two types of information found on a Safety Data Sheet.
Any two of the following: chemical identification, hazards, ingredients, first-aid measures, fire-fighting measures, accidental-release measures, handling and storage, exposure controls or personal protective equipment, physical and chemical properties, stability and reactivity, or toxicological information.
Name three techniques that help protect your body when lifting or moving an object.
Any three of the following: keep a good base of support; keep feet about shoulder-width apart; face the direction of movement; avoid twisting and unnecessary reaching; bend at the hips and knees; keep your back straight; keep the object close to your body; tighten abdominal muscles; exhale when lifting or exerting force.
What are the five factors that influence microbial growth?
Temperature, pH, food, moisture, and oxygen.
Name the six links in the chain of infection.
Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.
What is one effective way to help prevent healthcare-associated infections?
Handwashing. Alcohol-based hand cleansers are also acceptable when there is no visible skin contamination.
A chemical container has no readable label. What should you do, and what information should you consult before using a chemical product?
Do not use a product without a readable label. Read the product label and SDS before use.
Describe how you should position yourself and move when pushing a large object.
Use a stable base of support, face the direction you intend to move, and push rather than lift. Use your body weight to help, avoid twisting, and ask for help when needed.
Compare disinfection and sterilization, including what each is used to destroy or treat.
Disinfection uses strong chemicals to destroy pathogens, usually on objects rather than skin. Sterilization is the most effective method for destroying all microorganisms
Describe indirect transmission and name two ways it can occur.
Indirect transmission happens without human-to-human contact. It can occur through a vector or a fomite.
Explain the difference between medical asepsis and surgical asepsis, and state what to do if you are unsure whether an item is sterile.
Medical asepsis, or clean technique, reduces the number of microorganisms through practices such as handwashing, personal protective barriers, and routine cleaning. Surgical asepsis, or sterile technique, keeps objects sterile; only sterile objects should contact other sterile objects. If unsure whether an item is sterile, consider it contaminated.