As a RN in Homehealth company, we draw bloodwork for our MD's.We are required to transport them in hard-enclosed containers. Our company says it is our responsibility to supply them, but if we were not doing this we would not need these. Is this actually the employee's out of pocket expense or the company. We have no labor or Osha regulation posters to fall back on or book of regs. Please help us.

If you were a contractor for the home health company, the answer would be more clear. It seems as though you are actually employed by the home health company, so it is with that assumption I will answer your question.

The question here is whether or not this "tool" is a form of personal protective equipment or is it just a carrying case. I honestly don't think it would fit the OSHA definition of personal protective equipment. Many industries commonly require employees to have their own "tools." In fact, there are certainly many other "tools" which your employer may require you to have to do your job: scrubs, RN license, stethoscope, the car you drive from site to site. The beauty of these things is that YOU OWN THEM. If you leave this job, it is yours to keep.

Hope this helps.