scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among First Responders in the District of Columbia, May – July 2020

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Reuben ◽  
Adrienne Sherman ◽  
James A. Ellison ◽  
Jayleen K. L. Gunn ◽  
Anthony Tran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
District Of Columbia ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
Support Staff ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Continuous Training ◽  
Convenience Sample

AbstractFirst responders are at increased risk of occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 while providing frontline support to communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the District of Columbia (DC), first responders were among the first people exposed to and infected with SARS-CoV-2, with over 200 first responders diagnosed with COVID-19 by May 15, 2020. From June – July 2020, DC Health conducted a serologic survey to estimate SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and assess risk factors and occupational exposures among a convenience sample of first responders in DC. Of the 310 first responders tested, 3.5% (n = 11) had anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Seropositivity varied by occupation, with 4.8% (3/62) of firefighters; 3.6% (8/220) of police officers; and no paramedics (0/10) or administration and support staff (0/18) testing positive. Type and consistency of personal protective equipment (PPE) use also varied: all paramedics (n=10) reported wearing a N95 respirator all or most of the time, compared to 83.3% of firefighters, 38.8% of police officers, and 23.5% of administration and support staff (p<0.001). All paramedics reported wearing gloves all or most of the time, compared to 80.0% of firefighters, 27.8% of administration and support staff, and 24.3% of police (p<0.001). The relatively low seroprevalence among first responders highlights the benefits of continuous training on and reinforcement of the proper use of PPE while performing job duties to mitigate potential transmission within and between first responders and the community.SummaryUnderstanding occupational exposure to and infection with SARS-CoV-2 among first responders is important for workforce planning and emergency preparedness and response. Seroprevalence among first responders (3.5%; 11/310) who participated in a survey conducted by the District of Columbia Department of Health (DC Health) from May 28 – July 15 was 48% lower than reported in the DC community (6.7%; 876/12990). The lower prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among first responders highlights the importance of continuous training on and reinforcement of the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Proper use of PPE is a critical mitigation strategy to reduce transmission among and between first responders and the community.

scholarly journals Use of Personal Protective Equipment and Operating Room Behaviors in Four Surgical Subspecialties: Personal Protective Equipment and Behaviors in Surgery

1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (02) ◽  
pp. 110-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deniz Akduman ◽  
Lynn E. Kim ◽  
Rodney L. Parks ◽  
Paul B. L'Ecuyer ◽  
Sunita Mutha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Operating Room ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Hand Surgery ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Exposure Rate ◽  
Total Exposure

AbstractObjective:To evaluate Universal Precautions (UP) compliance in the operating room (OR).Design:Prospective observational cohort. Trained observers recorded information about (1) personal protective equipment used by OR staff; (2) eyewear, glove, or gown breaks; (3) the nature of sharps transfers; (4) risk-taking behaviors of the OR staff; and (5) needlestick injuries and other blood and body-fluid exposures.Setting:Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a 1,000-bed, tertiary-care hospital affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri.Participants:OR personnel in four surgical specialties (gynecologic, orthopedic, cardiothoracic, and general). Procedures eligible for the study were selected randomly. Hand surgery and procedures requiring no or a very small incision (eg, arthroscopy, laparoscopy) were excluded.Results:A total of 597 healthcare workers' procedures were observed in 76 surgical cases (200 hours). Of the 597 healthcare workers, 32% wore regular glasses, and 24% used no eye protection. Scrub nurses and medical students were more likely than other healthcare workers to wear goggles. Only 28% of healthcare workers double gloved, with orthopedic surgery personnel being the most compliant. Sharps passages were not announced in 91% of the surgical procedures. In 65 cases (86%), sharps were adjusted manually. Three percutaneous and 14 cutaneous exposures occurred, for a total exposure rate of 22%.Conclusion:OR personnel had poor compliance with UP. Although there was significant variation in use of personal protective equipment between groups, the total exposure rate was high (22%), indicating the need for further training and reinforcement of UP to reduce occupational exposures.

scholarly journals The postcode lottery of safety: COVID-19 guidance and shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for UK police officers

2021 ◽  
pp. 0032258X2110187
Author(s):  
Camilla De Camargo
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Safety Information ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Interview Data ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Working Practices ◽  
Police Forces

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant changes to police working practices involving the enhanced wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE), and ways of working inside and outside of police stations. The safety guidance released by the various government agencies has been conflicting, confusing and unhelpfully flexible, and there are significant discrepancies between some of the 43 forces of England and Wales. This article draws on primary interview data with 18 police officers from 11 UK police forces to explore the problems that officers faced in accessing appropriate PPE and the difficulties in obtaining and understanding accurate coronavirus health and safety information.

scholarly journals Issue of Compliance with Use of Personal Protective Equipment among Wastewater Workers across the Southeast Region of the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara Wright ◽  
Atin Adhikari ◽  
Jingjing Yin ◽  
Robert Vogel ◽  
Stacy Smallwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
The United States ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Perceived Susceptibility ◽  
Occupational Illness ◽  
Southeast Region ◽  
The Impact

Wastewater workers are exposed to different occupational hazards such as chemicals, gases, viruses, and bacteria. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a significant factor that can reduce or decrease the probability of an accident from hazardous exposures to chemicals and microbial contaminants. The purpose of this study was to examine wastewater worker’s beliefs and practices on wearing PPE through the integration of the Health Belief Model (HBM), identify the impact that management has on wastewater workers wearing PPE, and determine the predictors of PPE compliance among workers in the wastewater industry. Data was collected from 272 wastewater workers located at 33 wastewater facilities across the southeast region of the United States. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to present frequency distributions of participants’ knowledge and compliance with wearing PPE. Univariate and multiple linear regression models were applied to determine the association of predictors of interest with PPE compliance. Wastewater workers were knowledgeable of occupational exposures and PPE requirements at their facility. Positive predictors of PPE compliance were perceived susceptibility and perceived severity of contracting an occupational illness (p < 0.05). A negative association was identified between managers setting the example of wearing PPE sometimes and PPE compliance (p < 0.05). Utilizing perceived susceptibility and severity for safety programs and interventions may improve PPE compliance among wastewater workers.

scholarly journals Use of personal protective equipment under occupational exposure to cytostatics

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 499-508
Author(s):  
Sylwia Krzemińska ◽  
Małgorzata Pośniak ◽  
Małgorzata Szewczyńska
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Protective Equipment

scholarly journals Fundamental nursing care in patients with the SARS-CoV-2 virus: results from the ‘COVID-NURSE’ mixed methods survey into nurses’ experiences of missed care and barriers to care

BMC Nursing ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly V. R. Sugg ◽  
Anne-Marie Russell ◽  
Leila M. Morgan ◽  
Heather Iles-Smith ◽  
David A. Richards ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Nursing Care ◽  
Nursing Staff ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Barriers To Care ◽  
Care Quality ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Missed Care

Abstract Background Patient experience of nursing care is associated with safety, care quality, treatment outcomes, costs and service use. Effective nursing care includes meeting patients’ fundamental physical, relational and psychosocial needs, which may be compromised by the challenges of SARS-CoV-2. No evidence-based nursing guidelines exist for patients with SARS-CoV-2. We report work to develop such a guideline. Our aim was to identify views and experiences of nursing staff on necessary nursing care for inpatients with SARS-CoV-2 (not invasively ventilated) that is omitted or delayed (missed care) and any barriers to this care. Methods We conducted an online mixed methods survey structured according to the Fundamentals of Care Framework. We recruited a convenience sample of UK-based nursing staff who had nursed inpatients with SARS-CoV-2 not invasively ventilated. We asked respondents to rate how well they were able to meet the needs of SARS-CoV-2 patients, compared to non-SARS-CoV-2 patients, in 15 care categories; select from a list of barriers to care; and describe examples of missed care and barriers to care. We analysed quantitative data descriptively and qualitative data using Framework Analysis, integrating data in side-by-side comparison tables. Results Of 1062 respondents, the majority rated mobility, talking and listening, non-verbal communication, communicating with significant others, and emotional wellbeing as worse for patients with SARS-CoV-2. Eight barriers were ranked within the top five in at least one of the three care areas. These were (in rank order): wearing Personal Protective Equipment, the severity of patients’ conditions, inability to take items in and out of isolation rooms without donning and doffing Personal Protective Equipment, lack of time to spend with patients, lack of presence from specialised services e.g. physiotherapists, lack of knowledge about SARS-CoV-2, insufficient stock, and reluctance to spend time with patients for fear of catching SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions Our respondents identified nursing care areas likely to be missed for patients with SARS-CoV-2, and barriers to delivering care. We are currently evaluating a guideline of nursing strategies to address these barriers, which are unlikely to be exclusive to this pandemic or the environments represented by our respondents. Our results should, therefore, be incorporated into global pandemic planning.

Occupational Safety and Health and Illicit Opioids: State of the Research on Protecting Against the Threat of Occupational Exposure

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casey Basham ◽  
Audrey Cerles ◽  
Margaret Rush ◽  
Marissa Alexander-Scott ◽  
Lee Greenawald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Engineering Controls ◽  
Drug Substances ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
And Control ◽  
Job Activities

The nationwide opioid crisis continues to affect not only people who use opioids but also communities at large by increasing the risk of accidental occupational exposure to illicit opioids. In addition, the emergence of highly potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil increases the need to protect workers who may encounter unknown drug substances during job activities. To support the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Opioids Research Gaps Working Group, we examined the state of the literature concerning methods to protect workers against accidental occupational exposure to illicit opioids, and have identified unmet research needs concerning personal protective equipment, decontamination methods, and engineering controls. Additional studies are needed to overcome gaps in technical knowledge about personal protective equipment, decontamination, and control methods, and gaps in understanding how these measures are utilized by workers. Increasing our knowledge of how to protect against exposure to illicit opioids has the potential to improve occupational health across communities.

scholarly journals UK’s initial operational response and specialist operational response to CBRN and HazMat incidents: a primer on decontamination protocols for healthcare professionals

2018 ◽  
pp. emermed-2018-207562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert P Chilcott ◽  
Joanne Larner ◽  
Hazem Matar
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Skin Surface ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Hazardous Material ◽  
Removal Of Contaminants ◽  
The Uk

The UK is currently in the process of implementing a modified response to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear and hazardous material incidents that combines an initial operational response with a revision of the existing specialist operational response for ambulant casualties. The process is based on scientific evidence and focuses on the needs of casualties rather than the availability of specialist resources such as personal protective equipment, detection and monitoring instruments and bespoke showering (mass casualty decontamination) facilities. Two main features of the revised process are: (1) the introduction of an emergency disrobe and dry decontamination step prior to the arrival of specialist resources and (2) a revised protocol for mass casualty (wet) decontamination that has the potential to double the throughput of casualties and improve the removal of contaminants from the skin surface. Optimised methods for performing dry and wet decontamination are presented that may be of relevance to hospitals, as well as first responders at the scene of a chemical incident.

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