LESSON 13: OCCUPATIONAL RISK

• OSHA STANDARDS FOR REDUCING RISKS FOR BLOOD BORNE DISEASES

  • IMPLEMENTATION OF EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN (ECP)• USE OF STANDARD PRECAUTIONS DURING CARE OF PATIENTS• USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)• HAND WASHING AFTER THE REMOVAL OF PPE• HAND WASHING PRIOR TO AND AFTER PATIENT CARE• USE OF SAFER NEEDLE DEVICES AND OTHER SHARP DEVICES• IMPLEMENTATION OF ENGINEERING AND WORK PRACTICE CONTROLS• AVOID SPLASHING, SPRAYING, SPATTERING OR CREATING DROPLETS OF BLOOD OR OTHER BODY FLUIDS.• USE OF CONTAINERS FOR TRANSFER OR DISPOSAL• PROPER LABELING OF INFECTIOUS WASTE• USE OF HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION -APPROVED DISINFECTANT• CONDUCT OF POST EXPOSURE EVALUATION• HEPATITIS B VACCINATION• PROHIBITION OF EATING, DRINKING, APPLYING OF COSMETICS, HANDLING CONTACT LENSES
• •Needlestick injuries


  pose the greatest threat to health care workers for the exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
• OCCUPATIONAL RISK


  > probability of undesirable incidents connected with the performance of workclassified as - biological, chemical and physical hazards
• BLOOD BORNE DISEASE-HIV/AIDS


  • • Hundreds of health care workers have been accidentally exposed, mostly through needlestick injuries.• • Researchers estimate that needlestick injuries infection involving blood contaminated with HIV can spread the virus in 0.3% cases
• BLOOD BORNE- HEPATITIS B (HBV)


  • The transmission is reduced by immunization against Hep B which is 90-95% effective.• Risk of transmission is from 1-40% since Hep B virus can survive the environmental surfaces for more than a week• Indirect exposure to the virus can occur via contaminated inanimate objects and appears to have been a factor in HBV outbreaks among px and staff of hemodialysis units.
• BLOOD BORNE-DISEASE- HEPATITIS C CHCV)


  • Risk factor for this viral transmission is 1.8% and ranges from 0- 7%
• WHEN NEEDLESTICK INJURIES OCCUR

  40%During use40%After use andbefore disposal15%During disposal5%Other
• HBV vaccines has proved highly effective in preventing infection.However, no vaccine exists to prevent HCV or HIV infection.• Preventing needlestick injuries is the most effective way to protect health care workers.

  I. Employee training2. Recommended guidelines3. Safe recapping procedures4. Effective disposal system5. Surveillance programs6. Improved equipment design
• IF NEEDLESTICK OR SHARPS INJURY OCCUR:

  • Wash needlesticks or cuts with soap and water.• Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water.• Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile irritants. • Report the incident to your supervisor.• Immediately seek medical treatment.
• COVID-19 VIRUS


  All health care workers in all employment settings share the risk of COVID-19 virus transmission once the hazard of an infectious patient is present.• Higher risk is anticipated for employees in contact with persons with COVID-19 virus who are provided care before the diagnosis or when diagnostic or treatment procedures are made.
• CHEMICAL HAZARDS


  • Health care workers are occupationally exposed to a multitude of chemical hazards including• Disinfectants• Sterilizingagents• Solvents• Tissue fixatives and reagents
• MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS)


  provides information about the chemical trade and generic names, ingredients, safe handling and exposure information, emergency contact information, reactivity data, health effects, storage, spill handling and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.• MSDS must be readily available and accessible to the workers who use the chemicals.
• HOW DO CHEMICALS ENTER THE BODY?


  It enters through various routes-inhalation (of gases, vapors, fumes, dust, mists) percutaneous skin absorption ingestion accidentally needlestick
• REFLECTION


  • While OSHA requires employers to provide a safe and healthful workplace, free of known hazards, it is impossible to eradicate all of the occupational hazards associated with the health care industry and resultant exposures incurred by health care workers.