"Because Compliance Doesn't have to be Difficult"
News You Can Use
July 6, 2020
Want to know how to clean and disinfect your vehicle fleet? Attached are CDC guidelines for non-emergency vehicles. So for your route trucks or long haul vehicles here's what you need to know! Any questions?? Feel free to ask me!
#coronavirus #covid19 #vehicledisinfection #spurgincompliance
July 10, 2020
CDC Reports Case Based Mortality Figures for Covid19. Note the excerpt below and the full article that follows. Have questions? Let me know!
Case-based surveillance
Demographic and clinical data about COVID-19 cases are reported to CDC from 50 states, the District of Columbia, New York City, and U.S. territories using a standardized case-report form (case-based surveillance) or in aggregate. Data on 52,166 deaths from 47 jurisdictions among persons with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were reported individually to CDC via case-based surveillance during February 12–May 18, 2020. Among the 52,166 decedents, 55.4% were male, 79.6% were aged ≥65 years, 13.8% were Hispanic/Latino (Hispanic), 21.0% were black, 40.3% were white, 3.9% were Asian, 0.3% were American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), 0.1% were Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (NHPI), 2.6% were multiracial or other race, and race/ethnicity was unknown for 18.0%. Median decedent age was 78 years (interquartile range (IQR) = 67–87 years). ... information about underlying medical conditions was missing for the majority of these decedents (30,725; 58.9%), data regarding medical conditions were not analyzed further..
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6928e1.htm?s_cid=mm6928e1_e&deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM32780
July 27, 2020
If you buy a pizza free from touches of others don't you think compliance and training should be just as touch free? I mean seriously.... We offer on line training at your convenience and fingertips, right from your computer. OSHA, HIPAA, DOT, US Dept of Labor, COVID19, Diversity, Human Trafficking, Harrassment. Comply with ALL the requirements from EVERY regulatory agency. Answer me and I'll give you a 30 minute demo. Couldn't be easier....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZdq65MvO30
June 18, 2020
How COVID19 is transmitted. CDC Update June 16. Let me know if you have questions or need assistance!
https://www.cdc.gov/…/prevent-getti…/how-covid-spreads.html…
June 23, 2020
FOOD and the CORONA VIRUS. CDC reports very low risk of contamination. See below and let me know if you have any questions!
https://www.cdc.gov/…/daily-life-co…/food-and-COVID-19.html…
June 24, 2020
IS THERE SUCH A THING AS COVID19 WASTE?? NOT!
I've discussed this before but it bears repeating. Waste generated by a patient who tests positive for COVID19 is not treated any differently than regulated medical waste as defined by individual states. This is so important as I see small nursing homes and facilities throughout the country throwing everything away in a red bag. Please don't and advise your clients or facilities accordingly. It's wasteful, it's costly, and it's unnecessary. If you have any questions, call me at 949-677-0700. Let's do this!
May 28, 2020
CDC Issues COVID19 Guidelines for Pharmacies! Take a look and let me know if you have questions. Spurgin Compliance can help you work safely and optimally.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavir…/2019-ncov/hcp/pharmacies.html
April 30, 2020
REDUCING THE RISK OF EXPOSURE: How to clean and disinfect your workplace safely. This link to CDC guidelines provides practical help in protecting yourself, your colleagues, coworkers and clients as we start opening up. Be well, stay safe, and let me know if you have any questions!
https://www.cdc.gov/…/2019-n…/community/reopen-guidance.html
May 6, 2020
COVID19 Guidelines for Business Owners! If you own or manage a business CDC has published guidelines to help you navigate your business logistics. If you need more help or have questions let me know!
https://www.cdc.gov/…/2…/community/general-business-faq.html
May 4, 2020
Caring for Someone With Covid19? Take these precautions:
We've all seen reports of families with multiple infections in the same household. Use the CDC guidelines below to help limit the spread of infection and keep you and your loved ones safe.
https://www.cdc.gov/…/2019-ncov/if-yo…/care-for-someone.html
April 14, 2020
OSHA Temporarily Suspends Reporting Requirements
With the stay at home order, non essential businesses may have trouble determining if an employee's exposure to COVID19 occurred in the workplace. Thus OSHA is temporarily suspending enforcement of recordkeeping requirements for industries other than healthcare and first responders. See the article below for further details or contact me with any questions!
April 4, 2020
Medical Waste Treatment Capacity
Does the US have enough Medical Waste Treatment Capacity to handle Corona virus and COVID19 waste? I am happy to clarify!
Over the past few weeks various news outlets have postulated that this might be an issue, even interviewing service providers to try and make that claim.
Each of these service companies has some excess capacity, and even more to the point, the US has such a diversified network of medical waste treatment throughout the country that there's more than adequate capability to meet the demand.
Finally we're noticing that volumes are actually trending down in many areas. The reasons for this include reduction of elective surgeries, deferring non-essential trips to doctor offices or urgent care facilities, and some care facilities consolidating or closing during this time.
This week I'll be doing a short video to elaborate (stay tuned). Meanwhile let me know if you have any questions!
March 22, 2020
OSHA Update COVID-19
Good morning and a healthy day to you all. OSHA has updated their workplace guidance (not a requirement or regulation) to mitigate workplace exposure to COVID-19. Let me know if you have any questions!
March 23, 2020
Navigating the EPA : Compliance not Confusion
I'll be speaking this October at this important and timely event. Hope to see you there!
Navigating the EPA: Compliance Not Confusion
March 18, 2020
OSHA Addresses Medical Waste and COVID-19
The following is from OSHA and the solid waste update. The link below will take you to the solid waste info but here's the quote on Medical Waste:
"Medical Waste
For medical waste with potential or known COVID-19 contamination, manage like any other regulated medical waste. COVID-19 is not a Category A infectious substance.
Use typical engineering and administrative controls, safe work practices, and PPE, such as puncture-resistant gloves and face and eye protection, to prevent worker exposure to the waste streams (or types of wastes), including any contaminants in the materials, they manage. Such measures can help protect workers from sharps and other items that can cause injuries or exposures to infectious materials.
For regulated medical waste information, consult the regulated medical waste information in CDC’s Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities (2003). This document provides additional information related to management of waste streams from hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
CDC also provides information on medical waste management as a Question and Answer page on its coronavirus website."
March 17, 2020
See our press release on WasteDive!
https://www.wastedive.com/…/20200317-on-line-compliance-tr…/
PRESS RELEASE FROM SPURGIN & ASSOCIATES
On Line Compliance Training - Now More Than Ever
Posted Mar 17, 2020
As we deal with the impact of the Corona virus and work more remotely, the ability to maintain compliance and perform the required mandatory training necissitates that we do so without meetings or large gatherings. At www.spurgincompliance.com our online training allows the employee to work from his or her desk, listen to the tutorial, take a quiz and if they pass automatically obtain the required certificate of compliance. These programs include OSHA, DOT, HIPAA, diversity training, sexual harassment and just about anything else you need. Additionally we offer templates to develop safety plans, IIPP's, SDS libraries, and all OSHA compliant forms.
With more than 50 years of collective experience our team can provide you with all you need to comply with all applicable regulations in a manner that keeps you and your employees safe and your company in compliance. We're happy to offer online demonstrations of the program at your convenience. For more information please see the contact information below.
And remember, Compliance Doesn't Have to be Difficult!
Bob Spurgin
bob.spurgin@spurginassociates.com
949-677-0700
Is Covid-19 a Category B Infectious Substance?? Let's clear things up on this.
If you follow both CDC and DOT you may be confused about whether Covid-19 waste is a Cat B Infectious Substance and what should you do. Here's the most important point. A Category B infectious substance is defined as follows:
"Category B: An infectious substance that is not in a form generally capable of causing permanent disability or life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals when exposure to it occurs. This includes Category B infectious substances transported for diagnostic or investigational purposes......" 49 CFR § 173.134 - Class 6, Division 6.2 - Definitions and exceptions.
To be clear this material is still packaged, transported, and treated as Regulated Medical Waste once it leaves the generator. NO ADDITIONAL PACKAGING OR PPE PRECAUTIONS ARE NECESSARY NOR REQUIRED. Stick to what's been approved for RMW. The UN number may change on the shipping paper but again, a Category B infectious substance does not change the process for the packaging and handling of medical waste.
Covid-19
3/16/2020
CDC has a direct link to updated accurate information. Get it from the source and not the news. Includes all the latest updates, FAQ's, procedures and recommendations. It's not about politics folks, it's about public health and safety.
Free Webinar
03/13/2020
Free HWI/NWRA Webinar next Thursday on COVID-19
The Healthcare Waste Institute (HWI) of which I along with many of you are members is sponsoring a free Webinar next Thursday. Conducted by my friend and colleague Selin Hoboy this will be a very informative time and I encourage you to participate.
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8550472425637103627
CDC Update
03/12/2020
CDC Updates Guidelines for Mass Gatherings and Extends Timeline for Another 8 Weeks.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/Mass-Gatherings-Document_FINAL.pdf