N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43G-5.12

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 9, May 6, 2024

Section 8:43G-5.12 - Occupational health policies and procedures

(a) The hospital shall develop and implement a written policy to assure that staff have the right to voice occupational health and safety complaints or problems without reprisals.

(b) The hospital shall have available the most current version of standards and guidelines for:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). "Preventing Occupational Exposures to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care Settings." NIOSH Alert. Publication No. 2004-165; 1-58. Last update: September 2016; Conor TH, MacKenzie BA, DeBord DG, et al. for CDC; NIOSH. "NIOSH List of Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings, 2016." (Supersedes 2014-138). NIOSH. Publication No. 2016-161; 1-42, available from NIOSH-Publications Dissemination, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998. Phone:1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674). Fax: (513) 533-8573. Website: www.cdc.gov/niosh. E-mail: pubstaft@cdc.gov.

2. Waste anesthetic gases: "Recommended Standard for Occupational Exposure to Waste Anesthetic Gases and Vapors," National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 77-140;

3. Federal regulations for ethylene oxide, Code of Federal Regulations: 29 CFR 1910.1047;

4. Federal regulations for formaldehyde, Code of Federal Regulations: 29 CFR 1910.1048;

5. Federal regulations for hazard communication, Code of Federal Regulation: 29 CFR 1910.1200 (required for private sector hospitals); and

6. The Worker and Community Right to Know Act, N.J.S.A. 34:5A-1 et seq., and all rules promulgated pursuant to that Act.

Note: Copies of these standards and guidelines can be obtained on the Department's website at: http://www.state.nj.us/health/workplacehealthandsafety/right-to-know/

(c) The hospital shall have available and shall comply with the most current version of the following guidelines, incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented, to protect health care workers who may be exposed to infectious bloodborne diseases, such as AIDS and hepatitis-B:

1. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. "Enforcement Procedures for the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens." 42 CFR 1910.1030. C PL 02-02-069. November 27, 2001, which is available at: http://www.osha.gov/pls/publications;

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Recommendations for Preventing Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus to Patients During Exposure-Prone Invasive Procedures." MMWR. July 12, 1991;40(RR-8); 1-9, which is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00014845.htm; and

3. "Perspectives in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Update: Universal Precautions for Prevention of Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, and Other Bloodborne Pathogens in Health-Care Settings," MMWR. 1988; 37(24);377-388; which is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000039.htm.

(d) The hospital shall use the CDC, NIOSH, and OSHA standards and guidelines specified in (b) and (c) above to develop written occupational health policies and procedures that are reviewed annually, revised as needed, and implemented. They shall include at least:

1. Protection of employees from cytotoxic drugs, waste anesthetic gases, ethylene oxide, and formaldehyde; and

2. Protection and management of needle-stick injury and blood or body fluid exposures for all employees.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43G-5.12

Amended by 50 N.J.R. 552(b), effective 1/16/2018