What is the role of OSHA in healthcare settings?

The role of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) in healthcare settings primarily focuses on protecting worker safety. This includes establishing and enforcing standards to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for employees. OSHA sets regulations that help mitigate workplace hazards, such as exposure to hazardous materials, infection control, and ergonomic practices. By prioritizing worker safety, OSHA aims to prevent accidents and injuries, ultimately contributing to a safer healthcare environment for both staff and patients.

While other options may relate to healthcare practices, they do not directly align with OSHA's primary mission. For example, enhancing patient care is generally managed through different healthcare regulations and quality improvement initiatives. Regulating waste disposal pertains to environmental safety and may be influenced by OSHA regulations, but it is often governed by other agencies focused specifically on environmental health. Guiding sterilization practices is typically under the purview of infection control and sterilization standards set by professional organizations and the CDC rather than specifically OSHA.