 |
Although it is too early to call the Ebola virus disease (EVD) a major health issue in the United States, employers—particularly in the healthcare industry—are starting to ask what actions they should take to be prepared in the event of an outbreak.
Healthcare workers at all levels—hospital, clinic, maintenance, laundry, and transport—are at the greatest risk of infection. Healthcare workers are being urged by nurses’ unions throughout the nation to engage in comprehensive education and preparedness activities in order to ensure safety. This is particularly important since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Tom Frieden said in a news conference that he would not be surprised if there were additional cases.
All hospitals in the United States need to be prepared to diagnose and need to be properly equipped to treat patients with the EVD. The National Nurses United—the largest registered nurses’ (RN) union—called for all hospitals to have in place the highest standard of optimal protections, including hazmat suits and hands-on training to protect all RNs and other hospital personnel who confront Ebola.
Training on Ebola (and other infectious disease outbreaks)
Understanding and using proper protocols for dealing with an EVD patient require training.
U.S. hospitals should immediately implement a full emergency preparedness plan for Ebola or other infectious disease outbreaks—including the enterovirus.
The plan should include:
- Full training of hospital personnel, along with proper protocols and training materials for responding to outbreaks, with the ability for nurses to interact and ask questions;
- Adequate supplies of hazmat suits and other personal protective equipment (PPE);
- Properly equipped isolation rooms to ensure patient, visitor, and staff safety; and
- Proper procedures for disposal of medical waste and linens after use.
Yes, you do have the budget and time to train managers and supervisors with BLR’s 10-Minute HR Trainer®. Try it at no cost or risk. Get details.
Ways of Transmission
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people become infected with the Ebola virus through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes such as lips, nostrils, mouth, eyes, or genitals) with the blood, secretions, or other bodily fluids of a sick person, a person who has died from the disease, or infected animals.
People can also become infected from indirect contact by having broken skin or mucous membranes come in contact with materials or utensils contaminated with blood, secretions, or other bodily fluids from sick people and bodies ( e.g., used gloves, masks, goggles, other medical waste, soiled clothes, bed linen, used needles, and medical instruments).
In addition, men who have recovered from the illness can still spread the EVD to their partner through their semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery.
The incubation period, or the time interval from infection to onset of symptoms, is from 2 to 21 days. The infected person becomes contagious once he or she begins to show symptoms. An EVD patient is not contagious during the incubation period. EVD infections can only be confirmed through laboratory testing.
According to the WHO, the number of EVD cases has exceeded 10,000 in 8 countries. The death toll is nearing 5,000.
OSHA Guidance
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), exposure to Ebola or someone with EVD may be more likely in certain sectors, including the healthcare, mortuary/deathcare, and airline-servicing industries.
OSHA’s Ebola website provides regulatory information and hazard recognition, as well as precautionary measures and infection control strategies for workers in healthcare and nonhealthcare environments.
OSHA does have the following standards that apply to healthcare workers at risk of being exposed to Ebola:
- Bloodborne pathogen standard at 29 CFR 1910.1030;
- Respiratory protection standard at 29 CFR 1910.134;
- PPE standard at 29 CFR 1910.132; and
- General Duty Clause.
Train your line managers with BLR’s 10-Minute HR Trainer. There won’t be time for classroom boredom. Try it for free.
In tomorrow’s Advisor, we’ll give you more information from the CDC on prevention and control recommendations.