scholarly journals 723 Occupational health hazards, health problems encountered and personal protective equipment used in healthcare workers in hospitals, thailand

Author(s):  
Pornpimol Kongtip ◽  
Noppanun Nankongnab ◽  
Pimpan Silpasuwan ◽  
Mathuros Tipayamongkholgul ◽  
Orawan Kaewboonchoo ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-107
Author(s):  
Manisha Joshi ◽  
Gita Dhakal Chalise ◽  
Sarala Shrestha

Background: Welding is a hazardous occupation where welders expose to a variety of work-related hazards. These hazards might cause occupational health problems. Safe working environment and utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE) play a vital role in preventing problems and promoting their health, safety and wellbeing. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the prevalence of occupational health problems, workplace environment and utilization of personal protective equipment among welders. Methodology: A descriptive cross- sectional study design was used.  Data was collected from 130 welders of 35 metal workshops in Banepa Municipality using semi-structured interview schedule in 2019. An observational checklist was used to collect information on the workplace environment of selected metal workshops. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20 and described by using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Results: The most prevalent problems experienced by welders were accidents and injuries (99.2%) and eye and ear problems (98.4%). The most available PPE in 35 metal workshops were protective goggles (100%) and insulated gloves (71.4%). Similarly, 90.6% welders always used safety goggles, 41% sometimes used facemasks and 65.4% never used helmets while working.  Only 25.6% workshops had first aid kits available with no expired products and 11.4% had kept fire extinguishers in easily accessible locations. Almost all (97.1%) workshops did not have safety guidelines for their workers. Conclusion: Welders who work in metal workshops experience different types of occupational health problems (OHP) and do not use all types of PPE for their protection. Hence, metal workshops should develop safety guidelines for their workers and strictly implement it to prevent OHP.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-23
Author(s):  
Bibeka Shrestha ◽  
Naresh Manandhar ◽  
Sunil Kumar Joshi

Background: Fabrication work is one of the hazardous occupations in which workers are exposed to different occupational hazards and injuries. But the workers lack proper knowledge about protecting themselves from those hazards. This study was conducted, to assess knowledge about occupational health hazards among fabrication workers and to find out the practice of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in fabrication works. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 394 fabricator workers of Kathmandu District by using a multi-stage sampling technique. Participants were interviewed with a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Results: All the participants were male, and their age ranged from 19-60 years with the mean age of 32.3 years. 71.3% of participants had work-related health complains, among which arc eye (85.76%) was the most common. Among them, 87.1% had at least used one PPE. There was a significant association between awareness about occupational hazards and work experience of fabrication workers (p=0.001), and the practice of PPE with religion (p<0.01). Conclusions: This study found that fabrication workers were aware of occupational hazards and the use of PPE during the fabrication work. But the practice of PPE was not enough to protect them from the occupational hazards.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-7
Author(s):  
Manisha Joshi ◽  
Gita Dhakal ◽  
Sarala Shrestha

Introduction: Welding is a hazardous occupation where welders expose to a variety of work-related hazards. These hazards might cause occupational health problems. Safe working environment and utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE) play a vital role in preventing problems and promoting their health, safety and wellbeing. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of occupational health problems, workplace environment and utilization of personal protective equipment among welders.Methods: A descriptive cross- sectional study design was used for the study. Data was collected from purposively selected 130 welders of 35 metal workshops in Banepa Municipality. By using semi-structured interview schedule, face to face interview was taken with each of them in May-June, 2019. An observational checklist was used to collect information on the workplace environment of selected metal workshops. Data was analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and described by using descriptive and inferential statistical methods.Results: The study identified that 129 welders (99.2%) experienced accidents and injuries followed by eye and ear problems (128, 98.4%). Amongst all personal protective equipment, protective goggles was available in all 35 metal workshops and insulated gloves in 25 workshops (71.4%). Similarly, 118 welders (90.6%) always used safety goggles, 53 (41%) sometimes used facemasks and 85 (65.4%) never used helmets while working. Only 9 workshops (25.7%) had first aid kits available with no expired products and 4 (11.4%) had kept fire extinguishers in easily accessible locations. Among 35, 34 workshops (97.1%) did not have safety guidelines for their workers.Conclusion: Welders who work in metal workshops experience different types of occupational health problems (OHP) and do not use all types of PPE for their protection. Hence, metal workshops should develop safety guidelines for their workers and strictly implement it to prevent OHP.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rawlance Ndejjo ◽  
Geofrey Musinguzi ◽  
Xiaozhong Yu ◽  
Esther Buregyeya ◽  
David Musoke ◽  
...  

Objective.To assess the occupational health hazards faced by healthcare workers and the mitigation measures.Methods.We conducted a cross-sectional study utilizing quantitative data collection methods among 200 respondents who worked in 8 major health facilities in Kampala.Results.Overall, 50.0% of respondents reported experiencing an occupational health hazard. Among these, 39.5% experienced biological hazards while 31.5% experienced nonbiological hazards. Predictors for experiencing hazards included not wearing the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), working overtime, job related pressures, and working in multiple health facilities. Control measures to mitigate hazards were availing separate areas and containers to store medical waste and provision of safety tools and equipment.Conclusion.Healthcare workers in this setting experience several hazards in their workplaces. Associated factors include not wearing all necessary protective equipment, working overtime, experiencing work related pressures, and working in multiple facilities. Interventions should be instituted to mitigate the hazards. Specifically PPE supply gaps, job related pressures, and complacence in adhering to mitigation measures should be addressed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-73
Author(s):  
S Jayaselvi

A healthy population is an asset for an economy, while the ill and aged is a burden. A healthy workforce is more productive as it can effort for a longer duration. When a worker is incapable of working due to serious health problems, such as disability, then he/she is also unable to assist the nation in raising the standard of living. The number of workers employed in the health care industry was identified in each category based on the number of units, and total workers have been chosen randomly. The study consists of 120 samples that were collected from various healthcare industrial women workers at Thoothukudi in Tamilnadu. The Frequency Table, Cross Tabulation, and the Chi-Square test used to analyze the data.The current world scenario shows how healthcare workers are exposing to various threats or risks in the healthcare industry. Occupational health hazards emerge due to various factors such as communicable diseases, pestilence, psychological stress like work-related pressure in the workplace, work shifts, and so on. Healthcare workers face a huge challenge to overcome health hazards and ensure safety. The working women’s occupational health problems in the healthcare sector are a matter of urgent concern. There is also a definite need to develop a database on the occupational health of women in developing countries to promote their health status, and it is essential to create awareness among the health personnel in the industry. Health status influence the occupational health hazards among women workers in the health care industry. The study is focusing the occupational health hazards and the safety measures provided to the healthcare women personnel.


Author(s):  
Nhan Phuc Thanh Nguyen ◽  
Duong Dinh Le ◽  
Robert Colebunders ◽  
Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo ◽  
Trung Dinh Tran ◽  
...  

Frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) involved in the COVID-19 response have a higher risk of experiencing psychosocial distress amidst the pandemic. Between July and September 2020, a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic appeared in Vietnam with Da Nang city being the epicenter. During the outbreak, HCWs were quarantined within the health facilities in a bid to limit the spread of COVID-19 to their respective communities. Using the stress component of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), we assessed the level of stress among HCWs in Da Nang city. Between 30 August and 15 September 2020, 746 frontline HCWs were recruited to fill in an online structured questionnaire. Overall, 44.6% of participants experienced increased stress and 18.9% severe or extremely severe stress. In multivariable analysis, increased stress was associated with longer working hours (OR = 1.012; 95% CI: 1.004–1.019), working in health facilities providing COVID-19 treatment (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.04–2.39), having direct contact with patients or their bio-samples (physicians, nurses and laboratory workers; OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.02–1.99), low confidence in the available personal protective equipment (OR = 0.846; 95% CI: 0.744–0.962) and low knowledge on COVID-19 prevention and treatment (OR = 0.853; 95% CI: 0.739–0.986). In conclusion, many frontline HCWs experienced increased stress during the COVID-19 outbreak in Da Nang city. Reducing working time, providing essential personal protective equipment and enhancing the knowledge on COVID-19 will help to reduce this stress. Moreover, extra support is needed for HCWs who are directly exposed to COVID-19 patients.


Author(s):  
Stephanie Toigo ◽  
Michel Jacques ◽  
Tarek Razek ◽  
Ewa Rajda ◽  
Sidney Omelon ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: Bottlenecks in the personal protective equipment (PPE) supply chain have contributed to shortages of PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in fractures in the functionality of healthcare systems. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of retrofitted commercial snorkel masks as an alternative respirator for healthcare workers during infectious disease outbreaks. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed, analyzing qualitative and quantitative fit test results of the retrofitted Aria Ocean Reef® full-face snorkeling mask on healthcare workers at the McGill University Health Centre between April-June 2020. Historical fit test results, using medical-grade respirators, for healthcare workers were also analyzed. Results: During the study period, 71 participants volunteered for fit testing, 60.6% of which were nurses. The overall fit test passing rate using the snorkel mask was 83.1%. Of the participants who did not previously pass fit testing with medical-grade respirators, 80% achieved a passing fit test with the snorkel respirator. Conclusions: The results suggest that this novel respirator may be an effective and feasible alternative solution to address PPE shortages, while still providing healthcare workers with ample protection. Additional robust testing will be required to ensure that respirator fit is maintained, after numerous rounds of disinfection.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Duy Duong Nguyen ◽  
Patricia McCabe ◽  
Donna Thomas ◽  
Alison Purcell ◽  
Maree Doble ◽  
...  

AbstractFacemasks are essential for healthcare workers but characteristics of the voice whilst wearing this personal protective equipment are not well understood. In the present study, we compared acoustic voice measures in recordings of sixteen adults producing standardised vocal tasks with and without wearing either a surgical mask or a KN95 mask. Data were analysed for mean spectral levels at 0–1 kHz and 1–8 kHz regions, an energy ratio between 0–1 and 1–8 kHz (LH1000), harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR), smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPS), and vocal intensity. In connected speech there was significant attenuation of mean spectral level at 1–8 kHz region and there was no significant change in this measure at 0–1 kHz. Mean spectral levels of vowel did not change significantly in mask-wearing conditions. LH1000 for connected speech significantly increased whilst wearing either a surgical mask or KN95 mask but no significant change in this measure was found for vowel. HNR was higher in the mask-wearing conditions than the no-mask condition. CPPS and vocal intensity did not change in mask-wearing conditions. These findings implied an attenuation effects of wearing these types of masks on the voice spectra with surgical mask showing less impact than the KN95.


Author(s):  
Meike M. Neuwirth ◽  
Frauke Mattner ◽  
Robin Otchwemah

AbstractAdherence observations of health care workers (HCW) revealed deficiencies in the use of recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) among HCW caring in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards during the first period of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in a university hospital in Germany. The adherence to wearing surgical face or FFP2-masks and disinfecting hands prior to donning and after doffing the PPE was significantly higher in COVID-19 wards However, there was no total adherence of 100% in COVID-19 wards.


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