Every employer with employees that use medical sharps in direct patient care must, at least annually, identify, evaluate, and select engineering and work practice controls, including safer medical devices.

1. (1) This evaluation must involve non-managerial front-line employees responsible for direct patient care.
2. (2) This evaluation must be done on a facility-by-facility basis. When a facility has multiple departments with specific equipment and/or work practice concerns, the evaluation must involve employees from those departments.

3. (3) After a device is evaluated and selected, the employer must make a decision on implementing that device.

   1. (a) If a device is not purchased because of employer or employee concerns, those concerns must be documented. However, if the employer does not purchase a device that had employee support, the employer must also document the employee support, as well as the justification for not purchasing that device.
   2. (b) If a device is purchased without the consent of the employees who evaluated it, the employer must document the employees’ concerns, as well as the employers’ justification for purchasing that device.
   3. (c) All documentation required by 437-002-1030(3) must be kept as part of the written Exposure Control Plan.
4. (4) The employer must ensure that all affected employees are informed on the process for selecting safer medical devices.
5. (5) Employees must be trained in the use of safer medical devices before the employees use those devices.

Statutory/Other Authority

ORS 654.025(2) & 656.726(4)

Statutes/Other Implemented

ORS 654.001 - 654.295

History

OSHA 10-2001, f. 9-14-01, cert. ef. 10-18-01