WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released on December 21, 2004 information to help hospitals safeguard their own employees as they care for patients injured in incidents involving chemical, biological or radiological materials.

Entitled OSHA Best Practices for Hospital-Based First Receivers of Victims from Mass Casualty Incidents Involving the Release of Hazardous Substances, the document is available on OSHA's Web site and offers useful information to help hospitals create emergency plans based on worst-case scenarios. It focuses on suggestions for appropriate training and suitable personal protective equipment for healthcare employees who may be exposed to hazardous substances when they treat victims of mass casualties. The document includes appendices with practical examples of decontamination procedures and medical monitoring for first receivers who respond to a mass casualty incident. Website: http://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/bestpractices/html/hospital_firstreceivers.html#