Andrea L Steege1, James M Boiano, Marie H Sweeney. 1. Surveillance Branch, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45226-1998.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Health and Safety Practices Survey of Healthcare Workers describes current practices used to minimize chemical exposures and barriers to using recommended personal protective equipment for the following: antineoplastic drugs, anesthetic gases, high level disinfectants, surgical smoke, aerosolized medications (pentamidine, ribavirin, and antibiotics), and chemical sterilants. METHODS: Twenty-one healthcare professional practice organizations collaborated with NIOSH to develop and implement the web-based survey. RESULTS: Twelve thousand twenty-eight respondents included professional, technical, and support occupations which routinely come in contact with the targeted hazardous chemicals. Chemical-specific safe handling training was lowest for aerosolized antibiotics (52%, n = 316), and surgical smoke (57%, n = 4,747). Reported employer procedures for minimizing exposure was lowest for surgical smoke (32%, n = 4,746) and anesthetic gases (56%, n = 3,604). CONCLUSIONS: Training and having procedures in place to minimize exposure to these chemicals is one indication of employer and worker safety awareness. Safe handling practices for use of these chemicals will be reported in subsequent papers.
BACKGROUND: The Health and Safety Practices Survey of Healthcare Workers describes current practices used to minimize chemical exposures and barriers to using recommended personal protective equipment for the following: antineoplastic drugs, anesthetic gases, high level disinfectants, surgical smoke, aerosolized medications (pentamidine, ribavirin, and antibiotics), and chemical sterilants. METHODS: Twenty-one healthcare professional practice organizations collaborated with NIOSH to develop and implement the web-based survey. RESULTS: Twelve thousand twenty-eight respondents included professional, technical, and support occupations which routinely come in contact with the targeted hazardous chemicals. Chemical-specific safe handling training was lowest for aerosolized antibiotics (52%, n = 316), and surgical smoke (57%, n = 4,747). Reported employer procedures for minimizing exposure was lowest for surgical smoke (32%, n = 4,746) and anesthetic gases (56%, n = 3,604). CONCLUSIONS: Training and having procedures in place to minimize exposure to these chemicals is one indication of employer and worker safety awareness. Safe handling practices for use of these chemicals will be reported in subsequent papers.
Authors: Kenneth D Rosenman; Mary Jo Reilly; Donald P Schill; David Valiante; Jennifer Flattery; Robert Harrison; Florence Reinisch; Elise Pechter; Letitia Davis; Catharine M Tumpowsky; Margaret Filios Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2003-05 Impact factor: 2.162
Authors: Thomas H Connor; D Gayle DeBord; Jack R Pretty; Marc S Oliver; Tracy S Roth; Peter S J Lees; Edward F Krieg; Bonnie Rogers; Carmen P Escalante; Christine A Toennis; John C Clark; Belinda C Johnson; Melissa A McDiarmid Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2010-10 Impact factor: 2.162
Authors: Hector A Olvera Alvarez; Elias Provencio-Vasquez; George M Slavich; Jose Guillermo Cedeno Laurent; Mathew Browning; Gloria McKee-Lopez; Leslie Robbins; John D Spengler Journal: Nurs Res Date: 2019-08-07 Impact factor: 2.381
Authors: Hector A Olvera Alvarez; Elias Provencio-Vasquez; George M Slavich; Jose Guillermo Cedeño Laurent; Matthew Browning; Gloria McKee-Lopez; Leslie Robbins; John D Spengler Journal: Nurs Res Date: 2019 Nov/Dec Impact factor: 2.381
Authors: Kerri Wizner; Mahiyar Nasarwanji; Edward Fisher; Andrea L Steege; James M Boiano Journal: J Occup Environ Hyg Date: 2018-08 Impact factor: 2.155
Authors: Paul R Allyn; Erin L Duffy; Romney M Humphries; Patil Injean; S Samuel Weigt; Rajan Saggar; Michael Y Shino; Joseph P Lynch; Abbas Ardehali; Bernard Kubak; Chi-Hong Tseng; John A Belperio; David J Ross; Aric L Gregson Journal: Transplantation Date: 2016-11 Impact factor: 4.939