Tuberculosis
Possible Solutions
- Some EDs provide an isolation room to safely isolate potentially infectious patients. Others can designate an isolation area for infectious patients. Isolation rooms must be respiratory acid-fast bacilli (AFB) rooms that are maintained under negative pressure. AFB isolation refers to a negative-pressure room or an area that exhausts room air directly outside or through HEPA filters if re-circulation is unavoidable.
- Protect employees from exposure to the exhaled air of an individual with suspected or confirmed TB [29 CFR 1910.134(a)(2)].
- Isolate patients who have suspected or confirmed TB, or until verification testing is negative.
- Post a warning sign outside the ED respiratory isolation room 29 CFR 1910.145(a)(1) to prevent accidental entry. 29 CFR 1910.145(f)(4) requires that a signal word (i.e. "STOP", "HALT", or "NO ADMITTANCE") or biological hazard symbol be presented as well as a major message. An example of a description of necessary precautions is "Respirators must be donned before entering."
- Employers must provide suitable respirators when such equipment is necessary to protect the health of the employee [29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(i)]. The minimally acceptable level of respiratory protection for TB is the Type N95 Respirator.
- Establish and maintain a respiratory protective program which includes the requirements outlined in [29 CFR 1910.134(c)].
- Worker education: OSHA requires worker education and training to ensure employee knowledge of TB, including signs, symptoms, transmission, controls, and post-exposure protocols.
Isolate patients who have suspected or confirmed TB.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-7. Which topic does OSHA require employers to include when conducing tuberculosis (TB) training?
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