Respiratory Protection Tips for Healthcare Workers

Recent statistics show that there are more than 484,313 healthcare workers in the US. Women also make up the majority of workers at 79.9%, with men only making up 20.1%.

If you are in the healthcare industry, you may manage many healthcare workers. If that is the case, healthcare worker protection should be your priority.

Respiratory protection is especially important when it comes to the healthcare industry. This guide will help you understand how to prioritize a respiratory protection program.

Keep reading to find out what respiratory protection tips you should be utilizing.

Have a Written Program

When it comes to healthcare worker safety, you shouldn’t be cutting any corners. One of these medical facility safety tips is having a written program.

This is something that is legally required for healthcare businesses. If respiratory protection is mandatory, you must have a written program for workers to reference.

There are no legal requirements to what this has to include. Some businesses have a recommendation or an official policy for workers.

It’s recommended that this written program have protocols and procedures included. This helps workers to know what to do so that they are always staying safe.

Having something to reference reduces confusion and removes any excuses. This will motivate healthcare workers to prioritize safety and follow the safety policy.

Have the Right Respirators

Protective equipment is the backbone of any respiratory protection policy. There are a lot of respirators available, but they aren’t ideal for every situation.

OSHA mandates that businesses have to do an exposure assessment. Doing this ensures you will pick the right type of respirator for how it will be used.

Part of this includes figuring out the contaminants workers will be exposed to. You may need multiple kinds of respirators to fit different jobs and environments.

If that is the case, healthcare workers also need to be educated on the right respirators. You should also take into consideration the comfort and variety of respirators.

Workers will wear these for prolonged periods, and they need to be comfortable. You may also need to consider workers who have health concerns regarding respirators.

Create Respirator Instructions

Having the right kinds of respirators isn’t always enough for the workplace. This equipment can be a bit difficult, and employees may not know how to use it.

When it comes to respirators, they have to be worn correctly. That is why businesses should have respirator instructions available to workers.

Instructions should include how to wear the respirators and how to discard them. You may even need to restrict facial hair as this can reduce the efficiency of respirators.

The respirator must seal around the face tightly. If it does not create a seal, the healthcare worker will not be safe from the contaminants they’re exposed to.

Prioritize Respirator Maintenance

There are a lot of factors you need to consider when it comes to respiratory protection. One of these factors is how the respirators are cared for.

Some respirators are disposable and should not be reused. Make sure healthcare workers discard them after each use.

Other respirators have a filter that you need to change out regularly. This is a job that someone should specifically have to ensure it is always done.

All respirators should also be cleaned, sanitized, and stored away. This ensures that no one will have to use a dirty respirator, which can expose them to contaminants.

Someone should also have the job of inspecting each respirator. They need to check for damage so that respirators can be repaired as needed.

Have Replacement Equipment

When you run a healthcare business, a lot is going on all the time. There is always a chance of you running out of respirators, depending on the situation.

You may have more people working one day, creating a respirator shortage. Or you may have a few that are being repaired or have to be discarded due to damage.

You cannot legally send your workers into a situation without the right safety gear. That is why it is so important to have replacement respirators on hand at all times.

This includes having backup parts depending on the kinds of respirators. You may want to have extra filters, cartridges, and other important replacement parts.

Why Is Respiratory Protection Important?

It is very easy for healthcare businesses to forget about the importance of safety. But the reality is that respiratory protection is an absolutely necessary precaution.

Respiratory protection protects everyone from contagious contaminants. It protects patients from exposure and protects the worker from the patient.

Respirators also protect healthcare workers from airborne contaminants. This is very common in the healthcare industry, and precautions are necessary.

Healthcare workers are usually protected by laws regarding workplace safety. This is because they're exposed to a great deal of dangers that could impact their own health.

Respiratory Protection: Tips for the Healthcare Industry

If you work in the healthcare industry, respiratory protection needs to be a priority. This is especially important if you manage and oversee healthcare workers.

Certain precautions should be in place, like a written program and respirator instructions. You also need to make sure you are using the right respirator gear for the situation.

Legally you're required to test respirators in situations to find the right one.

Are you interested in safety compliance training for your business? Contact us today at Compliance Training Online to get started with a safety course.