Jane, a dedicated and experienced registered nurse, has been working in a busy urban hospital for the past seven years. She is passionate about providing the best care to her patients. However, her job exposes her to several occupational hazards that impact her physical and mental well-being.
Impact on Jane:
- Physically, Jane experiences chronic back pain, which affects her ability to perform her nursing duties efficiently and has led to missed workdays due to pain management and recovery.
- Mentally, she has developed symptoms of burnout, including emotional exhaustion, feelings of cynicism, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment. These have taken a toll on her job satisfaction.
- Emotionally, Jane often feels anxious and stressed before each shift, especially during the height of the pandemic. The fear of contracting an infectious disease and dealing with aggressive patients has led to anxiety issues.
Is Jane alone in this ? Unfortunately, NO!
The medical sector is often hailed as a noble profession, dedicated to saving lives and improving health. However, behind the scenes, healthcare professionals face a myriad of occupational hazards that can impact their well-being and job performance. While many health care workers may be aware of the overt occupa- tional hazards, others may be hidden or covert.
What are the types of hazards they face ?
- Biological Hazards
– Contact with Infectious Agents
– Viruses
– Bacteria
– Bloodborne Pathogens
Exposure to bloodborne pathogens, particularly hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is of greatest concern today. These pathogens can enter when contaminated blood or body fluid from an infected individual comes in direct contact with the health care worker through accidental injection (needle- stick), an open lesion on the health care worker’s skin, or through exposure to mucous membranes (e.g., eyes, mouth).
- Chemical Hazards
– Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals
– Disinfectants
– Sterilant
– Pharmaceuticals
Chemicals enter the body through various routes like inhalation (of gases, vapors, fumes, dust, mists), percutaneous skin absorption, ingestion, and accidental needlestick. Occupational allergic eczema is more common among nurses, surgical assistants and other auxiliaries because of their continual contact with drugs, anaesthetic and antiseptics. Surgical and casualty personnel may suffer from dry hand syndrome due to handling plaster of Paris
Stringent safety measures, proper training, and the use of protective equipment are essential to mitigate these risks and create a safer working environment in healthcare facilities
- Physical Hazards
– Musculoskeletal Injuries
– Lifting Patients
– Repetitive Tasks
– Long Working Hours
Nurses have to often assist in lifting and transferring patients who are bedridden or require mobility assistance. Over time, the repetitive strain of these tasks has led to musculoskeletal injuries leading to frequent back pain and fatigue. Similar is the case of Jane .
Dental work requires the use of pointed metal instruments that carries a risk of pricks , cuts and of face and eye wounds caused by fragments of tooth or metal when drilling. Painful and deforming cervical, dorsal and lumbar complaints are also frequent as a result of dentist spending all day on foot leaning over the chair.
- Psychological Hazards
– High-Stress Environments
– Traumatic Events
– Mental Health Strain
– Burnout and work related stress
The emotional toll of witnessing critical cases, trauma victims, life-and-death situations regularly has resulted in symptoms of burnout, including feelings of exhaustion and detachment from work. Healthcare workers often face high expectations for patient outcomes and try to be perfectionistic in their approach which leads to chronic stress, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy.
Demanding schedules and the need for 24/7 healthcare services can make it challenging to achieve a healthy work-life balance and a lack of balance can result in strained relationships and reduced personal time for self-care and relaxation.
- Radiation Hazards
– Exposure to Radiation
– Radiologic Imaging
– Radiation Oncology
Medical facilities use radioactive materials for diagnostic tests (e.g., nuclear medicine) and cancer treatments (e.g., radiation therapy). Mishandling or accidents involving these materials can lead to radiation exposure. Strict safety protocols, protective gear, and monitoring are crucial to safeguard their health.
6. Violence and Aggression
– Verbal and Physical Violence
– Irate Patients
– Aggressive Family Members
In June 2019, a particularly disturbing incident of violence against doctors occurred at the NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, India. The incident began when a patient, who had been admitted with critical health issues, passed away. Subsequently, a group of relatives and acquaintances of the deceased patient accused the doctors of negligence and demanded an explanation.
When the medical staff, including junior doctors, interns, and resident doctors, attempted to clarify the situation and provide details of the patient’s condition, the situation escalated. The patient’s relatives grew agitated, attacking the doctors both verbally and physically. The violence resulted in injuries to several doctors, including fractures and head injuries.
Impacts:
- Physical Injuries
- Psychological Trauma:
- Work Disruption
- Infectious Disease Outbreaks
– Special Risks during Pandemics
– COVID-19, etc.
– Need for PPE, Testing, Vaccination
How COVID posed as a health hazard to people working in healthcare ?
COVID-19 posed significant health hazards to people working in healthcare . They were at the forefront of the pandemic, directly caring for COVID-19 patients. This exposed them to a higher risk of contracting the virus, especially when adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) was scarce during the early stages of the pandemic.
The prolonged use of PPE, extended work hours, and heightened stress contributed to physical health issues like fatigue, muscle strain, and decreased immune function.
Healthcare workers faced the challenge of rapidly adapting to new protocols and treatments for COVID-19 patients. Inadequate training initially increased the risk of errors and transmission.
DDuring such tough times they had to stay away from their families working day in and out which took a toll on their mental health.
Some key facts stated by WHO:
- About 54% of health workers in low- and middle-income countries have latent tuberculosis, which is 25 times higher than the general population.
- Between 44% and 83% of nurses in clinical settings in Africa have chronic lower back pain, compared to 18% among office workers.
- Globally, 63% of health workers report experiencing any form of violence at the workplace.
- During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, 23% of front-line healthcare workers worldwide suffered depression and anxiety and 39% suffered insomnia. Furthermore, medical professions are at higher risk of suicide in all parts of the world.
How can we tackle this ?
- The hospital should implement mandatory training programs on infection control, handling hazardous materials and safe patient handling.
- Employee assistance programs (EAPs) and counselling services should be available to help nurses like Jane cope with the emotional toll of their work.
- Security personnel and protocols should be in place to manage situations of violence and aggression, ensuring the safety of healthcare workers.
- During infectious disease outbreaks, the hospital should provide adequate PPE and develop emergency response plans.
