I'm a resident care assistant at an assisted living facility. I'm on the midnight shift. I do housekeeping which includes, cleaning the facility, cleaning the kitchen (washing dishes, disinfecting the countertops, making the bacon for in the morning, cleaning the grill and stove and polishing the fridge) In addition, I perform resident care, such as assisting them to the restrooms, cleaning up BM they have in the middle of the night, etc. I've been doing this for 6 months as I'm training to be a nurse. I'm wondering, where can I find out if working with the residents and cleaning this place with industrial things is asking something that could be harmful to the residents. I live in the state of Ohio. I can't find anything on OSHA. Thanks!
Thank you! Yes, I'm wearing gloves, and always wash my hands. It's a thankless job, you're right, but I love my residents, and that's all the thanks I need. I'm not so much wondering as it's my fellow employees, so I'm more asking for them! 
State Health Department or nurse licensing agency in your state.
Posted on December 26th, 2008 by roy
Filed under: OSHA Training
Go to the attorney generals website.
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State Health Department or nurse licensing agency in your state.
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I am not sure where to find info on if all you are doing is legal or not. But if you are handling food (preping or cooking) you must have a food handlers card.
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hope u wash between bm and kitchen cleaning
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I'm most concerned that your doing these things and preparing food. Yuck.
Good for you though. It sounds like a pretty thankless job, and God bless you for taking care of those people.
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it should be written someplace, they need to get you the answer if not they can be in big trouble.
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Generally OSHA would have it posted. As long as you dont mix the chemicals your using you should be ok. You can always get industrial strength items that are odorless. Take a look in the cleaning aisle of home depot, lowes, places like that. then also have your supervisor order some and make them aware of your concerns.
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There should be safety data sheets with all chemicals used in the facility, probably located in the supervisors office. If it's anything like here in MI, I don't know if it is or not. You have every right to see those documents if your working with them.
Ask your supervisor.
Voice of Reason has a good answer.
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call lab0r b0ard n see where they can direct u
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thank you for helping with those in need.
when you handle patients BM's etc. do you wear gloves?
there should be safe handling procedures for your protection.
the duties you outline do not sound at all illegal.
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Illegal or not, it is probably not the healthiest situation for the patients. I would fire up my resume and report the information to your States Attorney General. Even if you don't get fired after making this report, I would still look for a job elsewhere, I wouldn't be able to work under those conditions!
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