I hope you’ve enjoyed the blogs this week!
I’ll admit…I’ve had fun coming up with the
alliterations! As Infection Control Week wraps up, I’ll end the week with one
of my favorite topics when it comes to talking about chemicals.
In fact I’ve probably done at least one blog
a year since inception that talks about the need to consider the safety aspects
of cleaners and disinfectants.
Why am I so passionate?
I know the risks of chemical exposure.
It dates back to my childhood.
My
brother, who was a particularly inquisitive (defined as hellion) child, was
known to get into things.
One of those
things was an aerosolized furniture polish that he sprayed in his mouth and
inhaled, and ended up with chemical pneumonia.
He was 3 and he was lucky.
Before you think “how could he be allowed to
grab it”, let me expand on the fact that it was on a highboy >5 feet off the
floor.
To look at this piece of
furniture you would not innately see or think there was a way to climb up it with
the drawers closed.
As I said, he was
“inquisitive”….nothing was safe with him.
I also know first-hand the impact that chemicals listed as
carcinogens can have the health and well-being of people. Those of you who have seen me speak may have
heard the story of people I know who have died from cancer likely associated
with the chemicals they worked with.
This is a topic I am passionate about.
This is a topic that some would say defines me as a zealot. I’m okay with that. I categorically believe there is NO reason
to choose a product that can cause harm to those who are tasked to use it if
there are safer options available.
I could repeat some of what I have already written, but I
hope instead that you’ll indulge me and read or re-read the blogs I have
already written. The following are a
few of my favorites:
- Safety
Indifference Syndrome (which happens to link to several blogs on this topic)
- Burnt
Buns Call for Ban on Disinfectants
- Mommy
This Water Tastes Funny
- VOCs
the Signs and Smells of Summer
- Of Frogs
and Boys
If the safety of a product is still not enough for you to
consider looking at safer alternatives, then I would recommend that you review
the OSHA guidelines. The General
Duty Clause states: “Each
employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of
employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are
likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.” There
is now a plethora of data to support hazards that some chemicals can have on
our staff. We are, by law, required to
provide a safe working environment. As
some of you may know first-hand, OSHA Inspectors may interpret clauses in
different ways. I know one colleague who
learned this the hard way. He had an
inspector that interpreted this clause to include the use of disinfectants in general
and particularly when they are being sprayed.
Disinfectants are a key tool in our arsenal in the war on
microbes. But we need to ensure that we
do not have blinders on and are only looking at products based on what they
kill. You may be looking at what HAI-causing
pathogen you are most concerned with and not realize the impact (sometimes
deadly) that the disinfectant you choose may have on your cleaning or nursing
staff.
Bugging Off!
Nicole
