While most workers are susceptible to workplace injuries and biological hazards, some have a higher rate of occupational risks than others. When we think of the range of occupational risks among workers in all industries and fields, healthcare workers are among those with the most occupational hazards. In a regular shift, for instance, a nurse may be exposed to hazardous biological and chemical materials, viruses, infectious diseases, and sharp objects that may even be contaminated with pathogens.
In this article, we will be discussing some healthcare worker safety tips, looking to contribute to the health and safety of these essential workers. We will also touch on some types of occupational diseases, what unsafe working conditions to look out for, the health system and its benefits and advantages, the safety programmes allotted for high-risk jobs, and other issues like psychosocial hazards and occupational burnout.
Data from the government of Ontario tells us that there are more than 880,000 workers employed in the healthcare sector of the province, and the range of risks they are exposed to is considerable. As health care ranks second highest for lost time injuries (LTI) among all sectors (data from 2016 reports), these are injuries on the job that result in the loss of productive work time. Everyday exposure to most public health issues undeniably puts care workers, especially in the health sector, at risk.
Considering these facts, the government in Ontario the government knew that they needed to create a program that enforces provincial workplace safety laws among healthcare personnel, which includes health professionals and the health manager. It was designed to protect healthcare professionals, implement infection prevention, and promote a culture of safety in settings like long-term care homes, retirement homes, hospitals, treatment clinics, and professional offices and agencies, including medical laboratories and other healthcare facilities.
Ontario isn't the only province doing risk assessments and promoting a safety culture among health facilities with a program to look after its healthcare workers. In fact, other national programs against safety hazards on professionals as well as against patient harm are being implemented, especially after the World Health Organization (WHO) called on governments and healthcare leaders for the protection of health and the prevention of occupational risks especially among health services and social services sector.
Healthcare workers are impacted not only by occupational hazards but also longer shifts, shortages of skilled professionals, and increased patient and resident needs due to several factors. To promote occupational safety along with patient safety, ensure the stability of all healthcare systems, and comply with the International Standard Classification of Occupations for the safety of health workers, there must be protocolized rules and measures to follow.
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Especially in the healthcare sector, these healthcare worker safety tips are supposed to be utilized for health management, addressing safety issues in occupational health, implementation of occupational health programs, job satisfaction among healthcare workers, and the eventual development of norms when it comes to promoting a culture of safety in medical care.
On top of the aforementioned healthcare worker safety tips, all medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, PSWs, DSWs, and the like should be knowledgeable enough to know of the risks they are exposed to on the job, including, as previously stated, the exposure to hazardous biological, chemical and physical agents, slips, trips and falls, workplace violence, contact with and struck-by-object injuries, infections and infectious diseases, and construction hazards. To keep healthcare workers protected and healthy in their workplaces, protocols must be implemented so they can safely work on protecting others.
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