Nurses and health care safety at work place

1. PERSONAL SAFETY AT WORKPLACE
Dr. Rupa Verma
Principal
MKSSS Sitabai Nargundkar college of Nursing, Nagpur

2. Dr. Prof. Rupa Verma
(Msc. Child health Nursing, P.hd Child health Nursing, MA
sociology)
20 years of teaching and administrative experience in nursing.
State secretary, Nursing Teachers association of India
Vice president, Trained Nurses association of India, Vidarbha
branch
Published more than 30 articles in national/international nursing
journals
Life member of various professional organisation
Appreciation and awards received from various NGOs and other
organisation.

3. Health care workers face a wide range of safety
hazards.
Biological
Hazards
Chemical
hazards
Physical
Hazards
Psychosoci
al Hazards
Environme
ntal
Hazards

4. BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
Biological hazards pose the greatest risk to the health
care workers
Biohazards includes:
– Blood and body fluids
including droplets from
sneezing, coughing,
drainage from wounds,
urine feces and sweat.

5. Client care equipments,
belongings contaminated by
blood and body fluids.
Garbage contaminated by germs ,
including discarded wound
dressings , used needles bedpan,
urinal, foley’s catheter bag etc.

6. Drug resistant bacteria
• Bacteria becomes stronger and less
reactive to antibiotic treatment when its
really needed. MSRA ( Methycillin
resistant staphylococcus aureus )‘Staph’
Infection that is resistant to antibiotic .
• Staph germ can be found on skin nose,
blood, urine and are spread by unwashed
hands
• VRE (vancomycin resistant enterococci)
drug resistant drugs caused by germs that
are in intestine can also spread through
unwashed hands.

7. PRECAUTION

8. Standard precaution
with all your clients-
even if they don’t
seem sick
Remember that all wounds
mucous membrane, fluids
secretions can contain some
kind of germs that you may
catch.
Wash Your Hands-
It is Easier than you
think!
Single most important
thing which may help
control spread of drug
resistant bacteria and
any infection.
Use PPE kit.
Protection of your Hands,
Face, Lungs is of equal
importance.

9. NOTE
• The key to washing your hand is not the brand of
soap or solution you use. It’s the 30-60 sec of energy
you put in to get rid of bacteria’s with any soap
solution.
• While using hand sanitizers remember to rub until its
dry.
• And try to use waterless hand rubs.
• Never carry infected PPE Kit/ mask/ gloves.etc with
you. Leave it in the contaminated places.

10. Chemical Hazards
Nurses use number of items every day that contains
potentially dangerous chemicals.
– Adhesive tapes,
– Antiseptics
– Cleaning solvents
– Disinfectants
– Mercury, soaps ,
– Medications.

11. • Always read MSDS
Material safety data
sheets.
• It contains all the details of
how to use products safely
• Note: Latex gloves are
made of 10 types of
protein and antioxidants,
which are allergic to many.
Some may have itching,
running nose etc.
• Some may also develop
allergies with it due to
repeated use.

12. FOCUS ON PHYSICAL HAZARDS
Falls and Back injuries :
Its not just that the patients fall employees do
to fall. So look after your self.
In a study it was found out that the rate of
injury of nurse aide is similar to that of construction
workers.
Each year there are significant reported case of
back injuries in nurses.

13. Musculoskeletal disorders
• The most common MSDs reported by nurses and
nursing aides are strains or sprains and injuries due
to overexertion (lifting, pushing or pulling) associated
with patient handling tasks.

14. • The Physical Demands of Work
– Patient
• Weight (heavy load)
• Shape (bulky and awkward)
• Behavior (unpredictable, confused, fragile, in pain)
– High repetition of tasks
• Equipment and Facilities Design
– Constricted work space
– Poorly maintained equipment
14
Why is Manual Patient Handling So
Hazardous?

15. • Poor Work Practices
– Adjustments on equipment (e.g., bed) not used
• Personal Factors
– Off the job activities e.g., Lifting and handling
children; trash; shopping, or performing other
heavy work, etc
– Previous Injury
15

16. Primary Risk Factors For MSDs
16
Time
Awkward &
Static
Postures
Repetition
Force
At work and/or at home

17. The physical effort required
to repeatedly lift and move
patients manually is greater
than your musculoskeletal
system can tolerate.
17
Compression
Shearing
Rotation
Arrows show
direction of load or
force on lower back
(L5/S1) when
manually lifting and
moving patients

18. Preventing MSDS
Eliminate or reduce primary risk
factors
e.g., Use patient handling
equipment, such as ceiling and
portable floor lifts, air assist
transfer devices and mechanical
sit to stand lifts

19. Preventing MSDS
19
Work Practice Controls
Reduce exposure to primary risk factors by using best work methods, e.g.,
 Plan work organization
 Use good housekeeping practices
 Use adjustments on equipment
 Get help
 Eliminate unnecessary movements
 Don’t use broken equipment
Remember – it’s the your responsibility to use good work practices and follow the
organizations’ safe patient handling policy and procedures

20. Preventing MSDS
20
 Use neutral or good body postures
- Neutral postures reduce physical stress on
musculoskeletal structures and enable optimum blood flow to the
musculoskeletal system.
- Your body is in the strongest and most balanced position.
Example:
Work at proper heights & keep everything in easy reach
Using good body mechanics or postures is still important when using patient handling
equipment and devices

21. 21
Neutral Standing Posture
Neutral Posture for Work
Performed in Standing Position
 Stand with feet shoulder width apart
 Knees are flexed/unlocked
 Head upright
 Shoulders relaxed (not rolled forward)
 Chest up
 Back straight
 Elbows not locked or flexed more than 110
degrees
 Wrists straight
 Ears, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles
should be in straight alignment to maintain
natural “S” curve of the spine (neutral
position)
 Heavy objects lifting should be close to body
Ears
Shoulder
Hips
Knees
Ankles

22. Optimal Work Height & Reach Envelopes
22
Best
Good
Fair
Poor
Fair
Poor
Best
Fair
Poor
Primary
Secondary

23. Note
• Watch out for freshly washed floor. It’s easy to slip on
wet floor.
• Wear rubber sole shoes while working , they provide
best traction.
• Always trip up the items you drop so that you and no
one else falls.
• Watch out for loose electrical cord.

24. Focus on
Pshychosocial hazards
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
• Violence in Workplace
• Physical assaults
• Violence from co-workers, family members and
strangers.
• But however the biggest violence comes from
aggressive patient

28. Environmental Emergencies
WORK PLACE FIRES
– More fires are preventable.
– Know the location of fire alarms make sure you can
use them in even dark.
– Know where fire extinguisher are placed and learn to
use them.
– Know which client need help during illness
– Make sure where to meet the co-workers so that the
heads can be counted.
– Participate in work drills.
– Focus and remember R.A.C.E

29. • Also preparedness for natural disaster
• At last do remember ABC of safety
Always be Careful.

30. Be a Proud Nurse