Full transcript
0:05Hi, I'm Missy, a STEFL [music]
0:07instructor and certified medical
0:09assistant. You're on a journey to learn
0:11all about the medical assistant role.
0:13Before you can confidently care for your
0:15patients, [music] you need to be able to
0:17protect yourself. That's why OSHA
0:20certification is so important. OSHA is
0:22the Occupational Safety and Health
0:24Administration.
0:25OSHA's mission is clear. keep workers
0:28safe and prevent work-related injuries,
0:31illnesses, and deaths. Getting your OSHA
0:34certification means you gain the
0:36knowledge to keep everyone safe. You
0:38show legal compliance and strengthen
0:40your professional resume, getting you
0:42fully prepared for your medical
0:43assistant role.
0:46OSHA's mandate is legally binding
0:48through the general duty clause, which
0:50requires all employers to provide a
0:53workplace free from recognized hazards.
0:55This federal principle applies to every
0:57workplace you step into, including
0:59medical facilities. Safety is a shared
1:02duty. So, let's break down the roles
1:04between employer and employee.
1:07The employer's primary duty is to
1:09provide a workplace free from hazards.
1:12In healthcare, the employer is required
1:14to have an annual review of engineered
1:16safety features for sharps. Employees
1:19must be trained on how to safely use
1:21each tool and the training must include
1:23input from those actually using them. It
1:26can't just be led by individuals who do
1:28not interact with sharps.
1:30For chemical hazards, employers must
1:33establish the safety program and provide
1:35you with training on hazardous chemicals
1:37upon initial assignment and whenever a
1:40new chemical hazard is introduced.
1:42Employers must also ensure this training
1:44is provided at no cost to the employee.
1:47Your role as a medical assistant is
1:49critical. You must be trained to
1:51recognize and follow all safety and work
1:54practices.
1:55This includes correctly using all
1:57personal protective equipment or PPE and
2:00actively participating in safety
2:01evaluations and reporting safety
2:04concerns.
2:06Documentation is essential for OSHA
2:08compliance. So, back at the desk, I'll
2:10show you exactly what needs to be
2:12recorded.
2:14Your employer must track workplace
2:15injuries and illnesses by recording
2:18every incident in their OSHA 300 log.
2:21They must maintain these logs for 5
2:22years in order to adhere to OSHA
2:24standards. If an on the job injury
2:27occurs, an OSHA form 301 must be
2:29completed. This form details information
2:32about the employee and the incident that
2:33occurred. This form must be submitted
2:36within seven calendar days of the
2:38business being informed about the
2:40accident. Once the form is completed,
2:43the information will be logged in the
2:45OSHA 300 log.
2:49As an employee, you should always keep
2:51records of all the health and safety
2:52training you receive. Training records
2:55must contain details like the dates of
2:56training, a summary of the contents, and
2:59the names of the attendees. These
3:02records prove that you received adequate
3:04training. This additional OSHA training
3:06is typically required annually. These
3:09records provide the legal documentation
3:11required during an incident
3:13investigation to answer the question,
3:15did the employee receive adequate
3:16training to do the job? Mastering this
3:19material ensures that every clinical
3:21task you perform is legally compliant,
3:24making you a highly prepared clinical
3:26medical assistant.