Safety Flashcards

A newly hired CNA refuses the hepatitis B vaccine series offered by their employer. Under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, what must the employer do?

Answer: Have the employee sign a declination form

OSHA requires that employees who decline the HBV vaccine sign a declination statement, acknowledging they were offered and refused the vaccine.

Which engineering control is MOST effective for reducing transmission of airborne infectious agents in an operating room?

Answer: Laminar airflow systems with positive pressure

Operating rooms use positive pressure laminar airflow to push air outward and protect the sterile field from contamination entering from outside.

During a disaster drill, an infection preventionist notes that staff are not decontaminating before entering the clean zone. Which safety principle does this violation affect?

Answer: Zone control and decontamination corridor integrity

Bypassing decontamination compromises zone control, allowing hazardous materials to spread from the warm/hot zone into clean areas.

Which occupational exposure route is associated with the HIGHEST risk of HIV transmission to healthcare workers?

Answer: Percutaneous injury with a hollow-bore needle from an HIV-positive source

Percutaneous injury with a hollow-bore needle from an HIV-infected source carries the highest occupational risk of HIV transmission, approximately 0.3%.

A facility is updating its exposure control plan. Under OSHA, how often must the Bloodborne Pathogens exposure control plan be reviewed and updated?

Answer: Annually and whenever new tasks or procedures affect exposure

OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires the exposure control plan to be reviewed and updated at least annually and whenever new procedures or tasks create new exposure risks.

What is the primary function of a safety officer in a healthcare facility's Incident Command System (HICS) during an emergency?

Answer: Monitor and ensure safe operations for all responding personnel

In HICS, the Safety Officer monitors all emergency operations to identify and mitigate hazards that could harm response personnel.

Which patient care scenario requires the use of both contact AND airborne precautions simultaneously?

Answer: Active varicella-zoster (chickenpox) infection

Varicella-zoster (chickenpox) is transmitted by both the airborne route and direct contact with vesicle fluid, requiring combined airborne and contact precautions.