The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) establishes and enforces workplace safety standards to protect employees from hazards—including in healthcare settings like optometry offices. The CPO exam tests your knowledge of the standards most relevant to optometric practice: the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, Hazard Communication (HazCom), and the general duty to maintain a safe workplace. Understanding OSHA compliance is not just an exam requirement—it directly protects you and your colleagues.
Key OSHA Standards for Optometry Practices
- Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) — Protects workers from exposure to HIV, HBV, HCV, and other bloodborne pathogens through exposure control, PPE, vaccination, and training. — Any task with potential exposure to blood or OPIM (tears, secretions, mucous membranes)
- Hazard Communication (HazCom, 29 CFR 1910.1200) — Ensures workers know about chemical hazards through SDS, container labeling, and training. Follows the GHS (Globally Harmonized System). — Disinfectants, cleaning chemicals, ophthalmic chemicals, developing solutions
- Personal Protective Equipment (29 CFR 1910.132) — Requires employers to provide PPE at no cost to employees when workplace hazards require protection. — Gloves, eye protection, masks, gowns for procedures with body fluid exposure
- Recordkeeping (29 CFR 1904) — Requires maintaining OSHA 300 injury/illness log for work-related injuries. Practices with 10 or fewer employees are partially exempt. — Needlestick injuries, occupational exposures, work-related musculoskeletal injuries
Bloodborne Pathogens Standard: What's Required
- Written Exposure Control Plan — Updated annually; must identify tasks and job classes with exposure risk; must include post-exposure procedures
- Hepatitis B Vaccination — Offered to all at-risk employees within 10 working days of assignment; at no cost to employee; declination form required if refused
- Engineering Controls — Use safety devices that reduce exposure risk (self-sheathing needles, sharps containers positioned at point of use)
- Work Practice Controls — One-handed needle recap method; no bending/breaking needles; proper disposal of sharps
- Personal Protective Equipment — Gloves, eye protection, masks, gowns provided at no cost; must fit correctly; removed before leaving work area
- Annual Training — Bloodborne pathogen training required at hire and annually; training records maintained for 3 years
- Post-Exposure Evaluation — Confidential medical evaluation provided within hours of exposure; employer pays; medical records maintained 30 years post-employment
- Labels and Biohazard Signs — Fluorescent orange-red biohazard labels on containers with infectious materials; regulated waste labeled or color-coded (red bags)
Hazard Communication: SDS and Labeling
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are standardized 16-section documents that describe a chemical's hazards, safe handling, and emergency response. Paraoptometrics should know where the SDS binder is located and how to find information quickly:
| SDS Section | Information Found |
|---|
- 70% Isopropyl Alcohol
- 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
- Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach)
- Fluorescein Sodium
- Proparacaine HCl
- Tropicamide
- Phenylephrine HCl
Post-Exposure Protocol
1
Wash wound with soap and water for 15 min; flush eyes/mucous membranes with water for 15 min
Action: Immediate first aid
2
Notify supervisor right away—delay can affect prophylaxis options (PEP for HIV must start within 72 hours)
Action: Report immediately
3
Date, time, type of exposure, source patient info, circumstances, and staff involved
Action: Complete incident documentation
4
Employer arranges confidential evaluation; source patient testing (with consent); prophylaxis decisions made by medical professional
Action: Medical evaluation
5
Baseline and follow-up HIV/HBV/HCV testing per protocol; results kept confidential
Action: Follow-up testing