This information is intended to help anyone working in clinical areas determine their safety training requirements in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and other applicable regulations.
Core Clinical Safety Training Program
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens and Chemical Hazard Communication Training is required for Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) clinical employees and students who do not work in a laboratory but do come in direct contact with patients, handle clinical specimens, chemicals or disinfectants, routinely work in a clinical environment, or handle biological waste (red bag/sharps). Since a lot of clinical staff work in both NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (NYP) and WCM clinical areas, NYP and WCM have coordinated safety training programs to minimize redundant safety training between the two areas.
To ensure compliance with these requirements as well as the safety of our community, Annual Hospital Training (AHT) must be completed by all clinical staff (located in Joint Commission Space or Non-Joint Commission Space). This includes:
- Physicians, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners (Credentialed)
- Nurses (Credentialed), including staff RNs and LPNs
- Other Credentialed Employees
- Students and Non-Credentialed Employees, including but not limited to students, nursing assistants, medical assistants or other staff that may come into contact with human blood or other potentially infectious material
Regulated Medical Waste
This training is required for anyone involved in packaging, shipping, or preparing transport of regulated medical waste. Regulated medical waste includes red bag waste, sharps waste, pathological waste, and chemotherapeutic waste. Click here for more information.
Specialized Safety Training Programs
Other specialized safety training programs must also be completed for those who conduct the following specialized work activities:
Clinical Radiation Safety Training
This training is required for anyone who works with radiological sources or radiation-emitting equipment. This training is typically coordinated by the Clinical Department.
Biological Materials and Dry Ice Shipment Training
This training is required for anyone involved in packaging, shipping, or preparing shipping documents for biological materials (including human blood and patient specimens) and/or dry ice. The use of Quest Diagnostic Laboratory or similar collection boxes does not apply. More Information
G-97 Cryogenic Liquids Certificate of Fitness (FDNY)
This training is required for anyone in clinical areas where amounts of cryogenic liquid over the FDNY permit threshold (e.g. 60 gallons) are store, handled and used. More Information
MRI Safety Training
This training is required for anyone who may enter zone 4 of an MRI suite. Service staff (e.g. Facilities Management & Campus Operations, Security) will receive this training from EHS. All others will receive MRI safety training through their department (e.g. Radiology, CBIC).
Online Fire Safety Training for Administrative Staff and Volunteers
This training is required for administrative staff and volunteers, and combines review of fire safety training, prevention work practices and fire evacuation procedures. Fire safety training is also included within annual safety trainings associated with bloodborne pathogen and chemical hazard communication training programs. Note that volunteers who provide patient care or may be exposed to a bloodborne pathogen or hazardous chemical must complete clinical and general safety training. More Information