Reuse of nurses' masks sparks dispute (may have contracted swine flu at work)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.contracostatimes.com/solanocounty/ci_12867096?nclick_check=1

By Shauntel Lowe
VALLEJO TIMES-HERALD
Posted: 07/18/2009 01:34:50 PM PDT
Updated: 07/18/2009 07:07:08 PM PDT

A complaint filed last week by nurses who say they may have contracted swine flu at work could give birth to new standards about what level of protection employers owe their employees.

Investigators from the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health are now trying to determine what constitutes a "use" of the specialty masks designed to protect against pandemic illness, like swine flu.

The nurses from Sutter Solano Medical Center allege hospital management is jeopardizing their health by asking them to reuse the 3M N95 masks.

About 10 nurses say they have developed respiratory illness over the past few weeks as they treat patients with either confirmed or suspected cases of swine flu. The virus has been blamed for one Solano County death.

But what does it mean to "reuse" the masks? Is it entering the room of one sick patient and moving to another without swapping for a new one? Or is it only a reuse when the mask has gotten wet or otherwise damaged?

It depends on who you ask.

"We're not in a position to say a hard-and-fast rule on any of that right now," Cal-OSHA Senior Safety Engineer Deborah Gold said.

FULL story at link.

[hlthe2b]

1. this is becoming an increasingly serious issue...

thx for posting.

[eilen]

2. I'll tell you what it means since I once worked at a hospital

that did this.

They fit you for a mask. They give you one. That's the mask you use. In every room that has airborne precautions.

[newfie11]

3. So are they washing their hands once for every 5 patients?

Got to save soap ya know.

[Warpy]

4. ICK! I know those masks are a little more expensive

than the regular paper variety but they get nasty as hell when you wear them for more than about 10 minutes. Once they get wet, viruses can be wicked through them.

Three cheers for stupid cost cutting measures!