Contamination Control in Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities
Most healthcare facilities and the laboratories associated with them have constantly changing work environments involving multiple physical, chemical, and biological agents. Due to the nature of the work, there are potentially serious risks of exposure to various types of contamination.
Contaminants may be present in the form of gases, liquids, solids, particulates, or combination states, such as dusts (solids in gas) or mists (liquids in gas). Chemical exposure may involve pure chemicals, mixtures, solutions, or airborne contaminants. Contamination in a healthcare facility may involve hazardous materials that are:
- Toxic
- Corrosive
- Infectious
- Radioactive
- Flammable
- Explosive
- Volatile
Contamination with blood, biological materials, and organisms can result in illness, infection, or death. Contamination and infectious control in Los Angeles reduces the transmission of disease-carrying organisms to patients and medical staff. For these reasons, it is crucial to impose rigorous biosafety procedures, techniques, and controls in a healthcare workplace.