ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)
January 11, 2011

1. Alliance Background

   Date Signed

   December 15, 2006

   Date Renewed

   April 1, 2009

   Evaluation Period

   December 15, 2009- December 14, 2010

   Overview

   The OSHA and AORN Alliance is providing AORN's members and others, including perioperative healthcare providers and small businesses (e.g., ambulatory surgery centers), with information, guidance, and access to training resources to protect employees' health and safety. Through the Alliance, the organizations are focusing on preventing exposure to bloodborne diseases, and exposure to smoke plume generated from the use of electrosurgery units (ESU) and lasers, and laser safety.

   Implementation Team Members

   OSHA:

   Sheila Arbury - Office of Occupational Health Nursing, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management
   Morgan Seuberling - Office of Outreach Services and Alliances (OOSA), Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP)
   Sandra Khan - OOSA, DCSP

   AORN:

   Susan Bakewell - Education Program Professional, AORN
   Janet Knox - Executive Assistant, Research and Nursing Resources, AORN
   Mary Ogg - PeriOperative Nursing Specialist, AORN
   Susan Root - Manager, Center for PeriOperative Education, AORN
   Deb Spratt - Clinical Specialist, AORN
   Cathy Kleiner - Vice President, Research and Nursing Resources, AORN

2. Implementation Team Meetings

   • March 24, 2010 - Implementation Team Meeting
   • July 22, 2010 - Implementation Team Meeting
   • October 27, 2010 - Implementation Team Meeting
   
   

   In addition to these formal meetings, the Alliance coordinators from both groups maintained regular contact throughout the reporting period to monitor the Alliance's progress and results.

3. Results

   1. Products and Events

      Outreach and Communication Goals

      • Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and AORN's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
      
      

      Products

      AORN and OSHA Alliance-related Web Page

      AORN is continuing to update the AORN and OSHA Alliance Web page that is posted on the Association's Web site. The page includes information on the Alliance, including a link to the OSHA and AORN Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site, and a number of links to additional safety and health resources such as the OSHA Hospital eTool and a number of OSHA's Safety and Health Topics pages.

      OSHA and AORN Alliance Web Page

      OSHA continues to maintain and update the OSHA and AORN Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site. The page includes links to OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages, the Alliance's activities, AORN developed products, and events.

      OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages

      AORN representatives serve on the editorial boards of the following OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages, providing OSHA with their expertise and technical review:

      • Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention
        • Judy Hawkins, RN, CNOR, Women's and Children's Hospital, Lafayette, LA
        • Darin Prescott, RN, BC, BSN, CNOR, CASC, Centracare/St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN
        • Anita Shoup, RN, MSN, CNOR, Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC, Edmonds, WA
      • Computer Workstations
        • Judy Hawkins, RN, CNOR, Women's and Children's Hospital, Lafayette, LA
        • Darin Prescott, RN, BC, BSN, CNOR, CASC, Centracare/St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN
        • Anita Shoup, RN, MSN, CNOR, Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC, Edmonds, WA
      • Dermal Exposure
        • Judy Hawkins, RN, CNOR, Women's and Children's Hospital, Lafayette, LA
        • Darin Prescott, RN, BC, BSN, CNOR, CASC, Centracare/St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN
        • Anita Shoup, RN, MSN, CNOR, Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC, Edmonds, WA
      • Eye and Face Protection
        • Judy Hawkins, RN, CNOR, Women's and Children's Hospital, Lafayette, LA
        • Darin Prescott, RN, BC, BSN, CNOR, CASC, Centracare/St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN
        • Anita Shoup, RN, MSN, CNOR, Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC, Edmonds, WA
      • Fall Protection
        • Judy Hawkins, RN, CNOR, Women's and Children's Hospital, Lafayette, LA
        • Darin Prescott, RN, BC, BSN, CNOR, CASC, Centracare/St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN
        • Anita Shoup, RN, MSN, CNOR, Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC, Edmonds, WA
      • Fire Safety
        • Judy Hawkins, RN, CNOR, Women's and Children's Hospital, Lafayette, LA
        • Darin Prescott, RN, BC, BSN, CNOR, CASC, Centracare/St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN
        • Anita Shoup, RN, MSN, CNOR, Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC, Edmonds, WA
      • Formaldehyde
        • Judy Hawkins, RN, CNOR, Women's and Children's Hospital, Lafayette, LA
        • Darin Prescott, RN, BC, BSN, CNOR, CASC, Centracare/St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN
        • Anita Shoup, RN, MSN, CNOR, Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC, Edmonds, WA
      • Laser/Eletrosurgery Plume
        • Judy Hawkins, RN, CNOR, Women's and Children's Hospital, Lafayette, LA
        • Darin Prescott, RN, BC, BSN, CNOR, CASC, Centracare/St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN
        • Anita Shoup, RN, MSN, CNOR, Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC, Edmonds, WA
      • Laser Hazards
        • Judy Hawkins, RN, CNOR, Women's and Children's Hospital, Lafayette, LA
        • Darin Prescott, RN, BC, BSN, CNOR, CASC, Centracare/St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN
        • Anita Shoup, RN, MSN, CNOR, Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC, Edmonds, WA
      • Latex Allergy
        • Judy Hawkins, RN, CNOR, Women's and Children's Hospital, Lafayette, LA
        • Darin Prescott, RN, BC, BSN, CNOR, CASC, Centracare/St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN
        • Anita Shoup, RN, MSN, CNOR, Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC, Edmonds, WA
      • Personal Protective Equipment
        • Judy Hawkins, RN, CNOR, Women's and Children's Hospital, Lafayette, LA
        • Darin Prescott, RN, BC, BSN, CNOR, CASC, Centracare/St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN
        • Anita Shoup, RN, MSN, CNOR, Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC, Edmonds, WA
      • Radiation
        • Judy Hawkins, RN, CNOR, Women's and Children's Hospital, Lafayette, LA
        • Darin Prescott, RN, BC, BSN, CNOR, CASC, Centracare/St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN
        • Anita Shoup, RN, MSN, CNOR, Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC, Edmonds, WA
      • Reproductive Hazards
        • Judy Hawkins, RN, CNOR, Women's and Children's Hospital, Lafayette, LA
        • Darin Prescott, RN, BC, BSN, CNOR, CASC, Centracare/St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN
        • Anita Shoup, RN, MSN, CNOR, Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC, Edmonds, WA
      • Waste Anesthetic Gases
        • Judy Hawkins, RN, CNOR, Women's and Children's Hospital, Lafayette, LA
        • Darin Prescott, RN, BC, BSN, CNOR, CASC, Centracare/St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN
        • Anita Shoup, RN, MSN, CNOR, Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC, Edmonds, WA

      OSHA's eTools

      AORN representatives serve on the editorial board of the following OSHA eTool, providing OSHA with their expertise and technical review:

      • Hospital
        • Mary J. Ogg, PeriOperative Nursing Specialist, Center for Nursing Practice, Denver, CO
        • Donna Pritchard, RN, BSN, MA, CNOR, CNA, BC, Director of PeriOperative Services, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
      • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or AORN's conferences, local meetings, such as the annual AORN Congress or other AORN sponsored events.

      Event

      57th AORN Annual Congress, March 13-18, 2010, Denver, Colorado

      Representatives from OSHA Region VIII staffed an Alliance Program exhibit booth and distributed OSHA compliance assistance materials. A reported 400 conference attendees visited the Alliance booth.

      • Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding AORN's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by AORN and through OSHA or AORN's developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

      Event

      2010 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 2-8, 2010

      The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported the 2010 NAOSH Week, "Mission NAOSH 2010: Safe Workplaces." Sponsored annually by the American Society of Safety Engineers, an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

      To help support the event, AORN distributed information about 2010 NAOSH Week to its membership through the member magazine and industry newsletter. AORN also linked their Web site to the 2010 NAOSH Week Web page.

      • Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects including bloodborne diseases and exposure to surgical plume, and laser safety that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

      Event

      Medical Laser Safety Officer Course

      Through the OSHA and the AORN Alliance and the Laser Institute of America (LIA) Alliance, LIA conducted the course at the 2010 AORN Annual Congress. The instructors, Kay Ball, RN, BSN, MSA, PhD, CNOR, FAAN, LIA and Evangeline Dennis, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, LIA, performed the two-day seminar on March 13-14, 2010, for 60 attendees. This course provides operating room personnel a basic foundation in laser biophysics, tissue interaction and laser safety.

      • Encourage AORN local chapters to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including bloodborne pathogen hazards, exposure to surgical smoke, and lasers, and laser safety.

      The OSHA and AORN Implementation Team have not completed products or resources during the evaluation period to address this goal.

   2. Executive Summary

      Through the Alliance, OSHA and AORN are working together to develop resources that will focus on reducing and preventing exposure to bloodborne diseases, ergonomic injuries and exposure to smoke plume generated from the use of electrosurgery units (ESU) and lasers. The positive relationship that AORN has developed over the past four years has led to the development of many projects that the team is currently working on or has produced.

      The Alliance is continuing to distribute information and increase awareness of laser safety for the industry safety and health professionals. Through the Alliance Program, AORN sponsored a "Medical Laser Safety Officer" course that was conducted by representatives from the OSHA and LIA Alliance at the 2010 Annual AORN Congress.

      In addition, AORN invited an OSHA representative from the Region VIII Area Office to staff an Alliance Program exhibit booth during their Annual Congress. Based on the success of this event, OSHA may speak and/or exhibit at the 2011 event.

      AORN representatives are sharing their expertise with OSHA through participation on the editorial boards for 14 OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages, including but not limited to, Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention, Laser Hazards, Laser/Electrosurgery Plume, Personal Protective Equipment, Reproductive Hazards and Waste Anesthetic Gases. AORN members are also continuing to serve on the OSHA editorial board for the Hospital eTool.

      Finally, as part of their outreach, AORN supported and promoted the 2010 NAOSH Week by adding information about the event on the AORN Web site and in AORN publications.

   3. Alliance Program Reach

      Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and Electronic Distribution, etc.)	Number of Individuals Reached or Trained
      OSHA and AORN Alliance Web page on the Agency Web site	984
      AORN and OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the AORN Web site	Data Not Available
      Blood Borne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Safety and Health Topics page	184,469
      Computer Workstations Safety and Health Topics page	12,615
      Dermal Exposure Safety and Health Topics page	5,385
      Eye and Face Protection Safety and Health Topics page	25,457
      Fall Protection Safety and Health Topics page	77,059
      Fire Safety Safety and Health Topics page	48,562
      Formaldehyde Safety and Health Topics page	22,908
      Laser/Electrosurgery Plume Safety and Health Topics page	16,582
      Laser Hazards Safety and Health Topics page	Data Not Available
      Latex Allergy Safety and Health Topics page	8,475
      Personal Protective Equipment Safety and Health Topics page	145,595
      Radiation Safety and Health Topics page	28,782
      Reproductive Hazards Safety and Health Topics page	5,260
      Waste Anesthetic Gases Safety and Health Topics page	4,920
      OSHA Hospital eTool	40,778
      March 13-18, 2010, 57th AORN Annual Congress, Denver, Colorado OSHA Staffed Exhibit	400
      Total	628,231

   4. Upcoming Milestones

      In 2011, OSHA and AORN will continue to focus on health and safety issues that address preventing exposure to bloodborne diseases, exposure to smoke plume generated from the use of electrosurgery units (ESU) and lasers, and laser safety. The OSHA and AORN Alliance Implementation Team members have discussed a number of activities that will be undertaken in the upcoming year. AORN will complete the Operating Room (OR) Laser Safety Fact Sheet based on AORN’s OR Laser Safety Best Practices document. AORN will add the Fact Sheet to the AORN and OSHA Alliance-related Web page on the AORN Web site. OSHA will then link to the document from the OSHA and AORN Alliance Web page, the Alliance Program Participants Developed Products Web page, and other appropriate locations on the Agency Web site.

      AORN will also continue to provide their expertise to OSHA by providing feedback on draft safety and health documents and/or Web pages developed by OSHA, as requested. AORN will work with OSHA to developing an Alliance resource for the handling of hazardous drugs in the OR. The fact sheet is expected to be drafted by the first of February 2011.

      In addition, AORN representatives will continue to provide OSHA their expertise in serving on the editorial boards for the OSHA Hospital eTool and for 14 OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages, including but not limited to, Bloodborne Pathogens, Laser Hazards, and Personal Protective Equipment.

      In continuing the exhibiting and speaking goal, OSHA representatives will participate at the AORN Annual Congress. OSHA personnel from Region III will staff an Alliance exhibit, March 19-24, 2011, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

      Finally, AORN representatives will be joining with other Alliance Program participants to support 2011 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week, May 1-7, 2011, "NAOSH – Celebrating a Century of Safety."

   Report prepared by: Morgan Seuberling, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, January 11, 2011