OSHA requires employers to assess workplace hazards and determine how to eliminate or minimize them. Within the hierarchy of controls, personal protective equipment (PPE) is considered the last line of defense. In healthcare, however, PPE is often the primary method of protection for workers. In many other industries, employers may be able to use engineering or administrative controls to reduce risks before resorting to PPE for worker safety.
What Are “Take-Home Exposures”?
Take-home exposures occur when hazardous substances are unintentionally carried away from the workplace on skin, hair, clothing, or shoes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and NIOSH, these exposures can contaminate cars, homes, furniture, and even pets or family members.
Common chemical examples include lead, pesticides, beryllium, silica, and asbestos. In healthcare, workers can unknowingly transport biological contaminants such as multidrug-resistant bacteria, viruses, or fungi from patient care areas and surfaces to their homes.
The PPE Laundering Gap
A key question is when clothing—such as uniforms or scrubs—should be considered PPE. OSHA requires that contaminated PPE be laundered by the employer, either onsite or through a professional laundering service, not at home.
For example, in dentistry, scrubs worn as street clothes may become PPE during treatment if protective gowns are not used to fully cover from neck to knees and wrists. If only a hip-length jacket is worn, both the jacket and scrub pants could be contaminated and would therefore qualify as PPE. In such cases, laundering is the employer’s responsibility.
Preventing Take-Home Exposures
Employers and workers can take several steps to reduce the risk of bringing harmful substances home:
• Wear PPE over street clothes while at work.
• Leave contaminated PPE at the workplace for proper laundering.
• Disinfect personal items such as cell phones, pens, and bags.
• Change shoes before leaving work, or store work shoes in the garage.
• Wash hands thoroughly and, if possible, shower before going home.
Employer Responsibility
OSHA requires employers to provide PPE at no cost to employees. Proper PPE not only protects workers on the job but also prevents contamination of clothing that might otherwise be laundered at home.
Take a close look at the chemical and biological hazards present in your workplace. Ensuring compliance with OSHA standards while protecting workers and their families from take-home exposures is not only a legal responsibility—it’s a critical commitment to health and safety. Get help with safety compliance.
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