Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Best Practices for Hospital-based First Receivers of Victims from Mass Casualty Incidents Involving the Release of Hazardous Substances Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA 3249-08N, Best Practices for Hospital-Based First Receivers of Victim?s from Mass Casualty Incidents Involving the Release of Hazardous Substances, 1) provides information to assist hospitals in selecting personal protective equipment (PPE) based on current interpretations of OSHA standards, published literature, current hospital practices, stakeholder input, and the practical limitations of currently available respiratory protective devices and 2) consolidates OSHA standards and interpretations on training needs of first receivers. These best practices build on health and safety programs that hospitals already should have in place under existing OSHA regulations. The way in which hospitals can use best practices and the rationale for OSHA?s conclusion on first receiver respiratory protection, glove selection, and protective clothing are all covered under the section ?Personal Protective Equipment.? Conclusions regarding personal protective equipment draws on information concerning hazards likely encountered by first receiver and specifies a minimum level of PPE for protecting first receivers against such hazards. Unless a community-specific hazard analysis identifies unique hazards that first receivers are reasonably anticipated to encounter and that require greater (or varied) PPE, an employer who meets the prerequisites detailed for limiting exposure can choose to rely on the PPE identified to comply with relevant OSHA PPE standards. Any employer can choose to perform an independent hazard assessment that is sufficient to identify the hazards that its employees are reasonably anticipated to encounter, and then select PPE adequate to protect its employees against such hazards. Information on training first receivers is included.