HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND IMPACT ON HEALTH CARE WORKERS -Dr.T.V.Rao MD We have no true guidelines which are mandatory on preventing the impact of chemicals we use in the Hospitals, on health care workers who are always with risk of Infectious diseases and indiscriminate use of chemicals, Health-care procedures and equipment require the use of a wide range of chemical, biological and radio logical materials with growing economy and corporate culture and mushrooming of hospitals in private sectors, many chemicals are pushed with many conflicts, apart from Patients the largest health burden often fall upon healthcare workers exposed to hazardous agents day in and day out for many years.
What types of hazards health care workers face?
Healthcare workers face a number of serious safety and health hazards. They include bloodborne pathogens and biological hazards, potential chemical and drug exposures, waste anesthetic gas exposures, respiratory hazards, ergonomic hazards from lifting and repetitive tasks, laser hazards, workplace violence, hazards associated with laboratories, and radioactive material and x-ray hazards. Some of the potential chemical exposures include formaldehyde, used for preservation of specimens for pathology; ethylene oxide, glutaraldehyde, and paracetic acid used for sterilization; and numerous other chemicals used in healthcare laboratories.
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants had the highest rates of musculoskeletal disorders of all occupations in 2010. The incidence rate of work related musculoskeletal disorders for these occupations was 249 per 10,000 workers.
Health care workers are at risk with
Anaesthetic gases
Asbestos, urea-formaldehyde and other unhealthy building materials
Cleaners, disinfectants and sterilants Hospital cleaners and disinfecting chemicals can cause respiratory and reproductive disorders, eye and skin irritation, central nervous system impairment, cancers and other human health effects. Ethylene oxide, a cold sterilizing agent is a known carcinogen
Drug-related cancer or reproductive risks
Mercury
Phthalates in IV tubing
Radiation exposure
TIME TO THINK WITH WISDOM _ Leave many matters, still very well known carcinogenic agents Formalin and aldehydes is used for fumigation other sterilization practices without opting on newer generation of agents as we see many seniors and administrators with rigid minds do not wish to change to safer with methods with proven efficiency in sterilization of operation theaters
It is time that Ministry of health in India and MCI must come with practical solutions to ratify misuse of chemicals without establishing human safety used in Indian market,
Certainly the Hospital's administrators are responsible for brining in human safety in health care workers/ how much happening is too low to true needs?
It is not far many Health care worker may bring in compensatory claims if they fall victims to the consequences of hazardous chemicals as many will be incapacitated with chemical hazards before they can compete term of service
Ref Chemical, biological and radiological exposures, Health and sustainable development World Health Organization WHO
Dr.T.V.Rao Freelance reporter on Human safety in Health care
What types of hazards health care workers face?
Healthcare workers face a number of serious safety and health hazards. They include bloodborne pathogens and biological hazards, potential chemical and drug exposures, waste anesthetic gas exposures, respiratory hazards, ergonomic hazards from lifting and repetitive tasks, laser hazards, workplace violence, hazards associated with laboratories, and radioactive material and x-ray hazards. Some of the potential chemical exposures include formaldehyde, used for preservation of specimens for pathology; ethylene oxide, glutaraldehyde, and paracetic acid used for sterilization; and numerous other chemicals used in healthcare laboratories.
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants had the highest rates of musculoskeletal disorders of all occupations in 2010. The incidence rate of work related musculoskeletal disorders for these occupations was 249 per 10,000 workers.
Health care workers are at risk with
Anaesthetic gases
Asbestos, urea-formaldehyde and other unhealthy building materials
Cleaners, disinfectants and sterilants Hospital cleaners and disinfecting chemicals can cause respiratory and reproductive disorders, eye and skin irritation, central nervous system impairment, cancers and other human health effects. Ethylene oxide, a cold sterilizing agent is a known carcinogen
Drug-related cancer or reproductive risks
Mercury
Phthalates in IV tubing
Radiation exposure
TIME TO THINK WITH WISDOM _ Leave many matters, still very well known carcinogenic agents Formalin and aldehydes is used for fumigation other sterilization practices without opting on newer generation of agents as we see many seniors and administrators with rigid minds do not wish to change to safer with methods with proven efficiency in sterilization of operation theaters
It is time that Ministry of health in India and MCI must come with practical solutions to ratify misuse of chemicals without establishing human safety used in Indian market,
Certainly the Hospital's administrators are responsible for brining in human safety in health care workers/ how much happening is too low to true needs?
It is not far many Health care worker may bring in compensatory claims if they fall victims to the consequences of hazardous chemicals as many will be incapacitated with chemical hazards before they can compete term of service
Ref Chemical, biological and radiological exposures, Health and sustainable development World Health Organization WHO
Dr.T.V.Rao Freelance reporter on Human safety in Health care
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