Occupational Hazards among Sanitary Staff in Hospital

Occupational Hazards among hygienic Staff in HospitalOccupational Hazards among Sanitary Staff spirts at Tertiary Cargon Hospitals of KarachiAbstractImproper scourge centering increases the risk of occupational hazard among faculty work in infirmary. The send of this cross-sectional study was to identify sense and practices associated with occupational hazards among the healthful stave working at tertiary make out infirmarys. The study was conducted at 2 governance hospitals in Karachi, from October 2012 to January 2013. An anonymous, self-descriptive questionnaire was used to collect data. Among 106 participants, solitary(prenominal) 39% (n=41) acquire information on managing idle idle. Moreover, single 51% (n=54) were able to key out between unwarranted and non-hazardous gaga. Around, 69% (n=73) respondents had proviso of individualized Protective Equipment (PPE) whereas completely 36% (n=38) were compliant with it. Two third of the participants reported that they have encountered daub from hospital crazy. Fishers Exact Test revealed that use of PPE is associated with education, aim, pedagogy and awareness. The study revealed great need of awareness most health hazards among sanitary mental faculty working at hospitals along with provision of facilities.Keywords Occupational Hazards, Personal Protective Equipment, unwarranted Management, Sanitary Staff.Hospital bollocks up serves to be the virtu tot eachyy hazardous waste material which can lead to life baneful infectious diseases. Poor and improper handling of waste increases the risk of icon to pathogenic organisms.1 Waste material generated from hospitals are considered as hazardous hence, it necessitate to be treated cautiously.2In developing countries, there is scarce awareness and knowledge about proper vigilance of hospital waste.3 All supply working at hospital is prone to acquire infections. However, sanitary supplys are at greater risk.4 A number of diseases can be communicate via contact with hazardous hospital waste including Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.5 Therefore, training of sanitary staff working at healthcare facilities is essential.4All healthcare facilities needs to fudge their own policies to ensure proper management of hospital waste and provision of staff safety.6 Appropriate management of hospital waste is based upon hospital administration, policies, finance, staff training, and active participation of staff.7 The staff responsible for handling hospital waste needs to be provided with all essential PPE.8 This study focuses on awareness of occupational hazards among sanitary staff working at political relation hospitals in Karachi.The study was conducted at two tertiary care government hospitals of Karachi from October 2012 till January 2013. It was a cross sectional survey conducted on 106 participants that had wedded consent and who had minimum of 3 months of experience. Th e survey was conducted through a organize questionnaire and data was analyzed through SPSS.Among 106 participants 71% (n=75) were male and 29% (n=31) were females. wet age of participants was 40.23 (+ 9.5 SD). As displayed in circuit board 1, among all participants 62% had work experience of more than 5 years. Majority (n=36, 34%) of the participants had received secondary winding education. Participants who had done intermediate (n=23, 22%) were working as shift supervisors. blood responsibility of participants included dusting and decipherableing wards (n=41, 39%), collection of hospital waste (n=32, 30%), segregation of hospital waste (n=18, 17%), and electric pig of waste material (n=15, 14%).Table 1Demographic Profile of say Participants152532342423362341321815142430322322342239301714During job tenure, only 41 (39%) staff received formal training on handling hospital waste and preventing health hazards by fol disordereding standard precautions. However, 54 (51%) of the respondents were aware about hazardous and non-hazardous waste products. Among all participants, only 19 (18%) underwent medical examination checkup reappraisal and 67 (63%) of them received Hepatitis-B vaccination. However, among recipients of Hepatitis-B vaccine, only 37 (35%) received complete vaccination i.e. all 3 doses of Hepatitis-B.On inquiring about availability of PPE, 73 (69%) responded that PPE are provided by hospital whereas, only 38 (36%) of the respondents were using PPE. Among all participants, 87 (82%) were compliant with hand washing.With regard to separate collection of hazardous waste from non-hazardous waste, 47 (44%) of the respondents said that they collect waste separately. However, only 21 (20%) of the participants reported that they carry hazardous and non-hazardous waste separately. Majority (n=88, 83%) were using open containers for carrying waste material.Around 69 (65%) of the participants responded that they have encountered injury from hospital waste. Among them, 2 (2%) encountered needle stick injury, 30 (28%) experient sharp injuries, 24 (23%) came in contact with blood and body fluids, and 14 (13%) got other types of injury. scarce 18 (17%) of the participants didnt experienced whatsoever illness, however 21 (20%) experienced gastrointestinal tract problems, 28 (27%) suffered from respiratory disorders, 14 (13%) got eye infections, 11 (10%) came in contact with skin diseases, and 14 (13%) encountered blood borne diseases.With regard to compliancy of using standard precaution 34 (32%) of the participants always use gloves, only 7.5% of the participants always use apron, and 31 (29%) always use masks.The Fishers Exact test revealed a significant association between experience and use of PPE (P=0.027). Similarly, highly significant association has been identified between training and entry with use of PPE (PPPP=0.078), was found to be insignificant (see Table 2).Table 2Association between Compliance with Use of PPE a nd Demographic Characteristics* evidential** Fishers Exact Test applied due to low cell countGeneration of waste at hospitals demands for it proper disposal to avoid hazardous consequences associated with it. It is the prime responsibility of hospital to maintain clean and healthy environment to reduce infections associated with hospital wastes.6 Therefore, it is essential to provide allot training to ensure staff safety.9 In current study, less than one-half of the respondents received training and around half of the respondents displayed awareness about hazardous waste material. The study also displayed an association between training as well as awareness about hazardous waste with compliance to PPE use. Similarly, available evidences in the field also suggests that training of staff along with regular follow-ups can foster compliance with divert waste management practices.10 Available literature also suggests that for appropriate management of hospital waste and safety of hosp ital staff, continuous training programs needs to be organized.8 genuine study revealed that only 18% of the sanitary staff went through medical inspection and around 35% of the staff received complete doses of hepatitis B vaccination. In contrast, previous study on sanitary staff working in tertiary care hospital of Rawalpindi reported that none of the sanitary staff went through medical checkup or received any vaccination before or during job tenure.4The findings of current study revealed that availability of PPE was inadequate. However, it is essential to provide continuous supply of PPE and to bring change in attitude of staff towards use of PPE. The efforts of providing training, creating awareness, and providing personal protective equipment will non be of worth if staff will not comply with the appropriate waste handling and management strategies. Our study also demonstrated that only one third of the respondents were using available PPE. However, non-compliance with appropr iate management of hospital waste makes sanitary staff prone to infections.10Hence, efforts need to be make for providing training and creating awareness among sanitary staff for handling hazardous hospital waste. Moreover, organization should develop relevant policies and protocols to ensure appropriate handling and disposal of hospital waste. Organizations should also take initiatives for conducting medical inspection and vaccinating all hospital staff including sanitary staff. Availability of PPE should be adequate and staff needs to be encouraged to use PPE. Evidence based interventional look can be conducted to ensure appropriate handling of hazardous hospital waste for preventing sanitary staff from infectious diseases.ReferencesHossain MS, Santhanam A, Nik Norulaini NA, Omar AK. Clinical solid waste management practices and its impact on human health and environment-A review. Waste Manag 2011 317546.Ross DE. Safeguarding public health, the core reason for solid waste managem ent. Waste Manag reticuloendothelial system 2011 2977980.Janjua NZ, Khan MI, Mahmood B. Sharp injuries and their determinants among health care workers at first-level care facilities in Sindh Province, Pakistan. Trop Med Int Health 2010 15124451.Ahmed I, Farooq U, Rabia M, Naheed A, Maryum A, Asia A. Awareness among sanitary workers regarding their job A survey at tertiary care hospital. Medical Forum periodical A Journal for all Specialties. 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