News

OSHA's new COVID-19 temporary standard almost ready to roll out
After weeks of delays, the President's executive order to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is finally coming to fruition. The order requires OSHA to establish workplace safety rules to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. "OSHA has been working diligently on its proposal and has taken the appropriate time to work with its science-agency partners, economic agencies, and others in the U.S. government to get this proposed emergency standard right,"  - OSHA representative The most recent delays were caused by Labor Secretary Marty Walsh requesting an additional review of the rules "based on... Read more...
OSHA Checklist - What every Medical and Dental Practice Need to Know
OSHA Checklist - What every Medical and Dental Practice Need to Know
Running a busy medical or dental practice is difficult enough as it is without having to deal with regulatory compliance like OSHA or HIPAA. This checklist will assist you in... Read more...
OSHA Hits Dental Office with a $9,500 Citation for COVID Related Deficiencies
 On September 16th OSHA released a statement that they had cited a Massachusetts based dental practice for an inadequate respiratory protection program related to the current coronavirus pandemic and other shortcomings. In total, OSHA cited six serious and one other-than-serious violations for a penalty of $9,500. The dental office has since corrected the violations and paid the fine in full. Specifically, the COVID related violations were failing to provide a medical evaluation and fit testing for employees required to wear N-95 respirators and the absence of written policy for respiratory protection. The practice... Read more...
OSHA and the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
OSHA and the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
 OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard was created to protect workers occupationally exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). This means any employee that might come into contact with infectious... Read more...
OSHA Updates Enforcement Guidance for Recording COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
OSHA Updates Enforcement Guidance for Recording COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
OSHA issued updated interim guidance to their inspectors for enforcing the requirements of 29 CFR 1904 with respect to the recording of occupational exposure to COVID-19. These new guidelines will be enforced as... Read more...
OSHA Considers Employer’s Good Faith Efforts When Enforcing Compliance During Coronavirus Pandemic
 The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued interim guidance to advise compliance safety and health officers to evaluate an employer’s good faith efforts to comply with safety and health standards during the coronavirus pandemic. Current infection control practices may limit the availability of employees, consultants or contractors who normally provide training, auditing, equipment inspections, testing, and other essential safety and industrial hygiene services. Business closures and other restrictions may also preclude employee participation in training if trainers are unavailable and access to medical testing facilities may... Read more...
OSHA Fines up in 2020. Penalties Have Almost Doubled Since 2015
Earlier this week the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) increased it's fines for non-compliance starting on January 15, 2020. This latest increase now raises the maximum penalty for violations considered serious, other-than-serious and posting violations to $13,494 per incident. Willful violations or violations in which the employer intentionally failed to follow an OSHA standard or showed a lack of concern regarding employee safety, now have a minimum fine of $9,639 with the maximum capped at $134,937. OSHA fines have soared since congress passed the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment and Improvements Act in November of 2015. Maximum... Read more...
Dental Office Pays a $10,000 Penalty for Improper Disclosure of PHI on Yelp.
In October, Health and Human Services (HHS) released a press statement that a Dallas based dental office had agreed to a settlement of $10,000 for improperly disclosing patient protected health information (PHI) on a social media platform known for online reviews.   HHS's Office of Civil Rights received a complaint in June 2016 from a patient alleging that Elite Dental Associates had disclosed the patient's last name and details of their condition. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is an organization that operates within HHS and has the responsibility of enforcing the Privacy... Read more...
The Top 5 Ways to Avoid a HIPAA Fine in 2019
You might remember this scene in the movie The Matrix. Cypher and Agent Smith are seated in a fancy restaurant. Cypher agrees to sell out his friends with the understanding he will be put back into the Matrix with no recollection of it's existence."I know this steak doesn't exist; I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it's juicy and delicious." <Cypher takes an indulgent bite of his steak> "After 9 years, you know what I realized? Ignorance is bliss." "HIPAA fines for non-compliance are based... Read more...
Choosing the Right PPE for the Task - Healthcare and Dentistry
Choosing the Right PPE for the Task - Healthcare and Dentistry
There's an old saying "If the shoe fits, then wear it." It's got a ring to it, but it certainly wouldn't be good advice if we were talking about PPE use. The... Read more...
HIPAA and Jussie Smollett. How and Why Over 50 Employees Lost Their Jobs.
HIPAA and Jussie Smollett. How and Why Over 50 Employees Lost Their Jobs.
By now pretty much everyone has heard about Jussie Smollett. It's a case that grabbed a lot of attention because it involved a celebrity. It was no secret that Jussie Smollett had admitted himself... Read more...
GHS container labeling and OSHA in Dentistry and Healthcare - Hazard Communications
GHS container labeling and OSHA in Dentistry and Healthcare - Hazard Communications
Now that that we've had some time to digest the Hazard Communication Standard's alignment with GHS we've realized just how much has changed especially when it comes to secondary container labeling. The... Read more...