Assessing risk for healthcare workers during the pandemic: don’t forget workplace safety committees or aerosol generating procedures

mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Immunization Confers Robust Antibody Response in Occupational Healthcare Workers and Fosters Workplace Safety

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1097/jom.0000000000002187 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽

Author(s):

Bart O. Iddins ◽

Mark H. Waugh ◽

Brandon Buck ◽

Tracey Cato ◽

Adam Partin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antibody Response ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Workplace Safety ◽

Occupational Healthcare

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Alert Workplace From Healthcare Workers’ Perspective: Behavioral and Environmental Strategies to Improve Vigilance and Alertness in Healthcare Settings

HERD Health Environments Research & Design Journal ◽

10.1177/1937586717729349 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 72-88 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Rana Sagah Zadeh ◽

Mardelle Shepley ◽

Hessam Sadatsafavi ◽

Arthur Hamie Owora ◽

Ana C. Krieger

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Primary Care Clinic ◽

Workplace Safety ◽

System Level ◽

Health Clinic ◽

Caffeine Intake ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Care Clinic ◽

Environmental Strategies

Objective: This study aims to identify the behavioral and environmental strategies that healthcare workers view as helpful for managing sleepiness, improving alertness, and therefore optimizing workplace safety. Background: Reduced alertness is a common issue in healthcare work environments and is associated with impaired cognitive performance and decision-making ability as well as increased errors and injuries. Method: We surveyed 136 healthcare professionals at a primary care clinic, an acute care hospital, and a mental health clinic. Nonstructured, semistructured, and structured questionnaires were used to elicit relevant information which was analyzed using qualitative content analysis and logistic regression models, respectively. Results: In order by frequency of endorsement: dietary intervention; physical mobility; cognitive, sensory, or social stimulation; personal lifestyle strategies; and rest/nap opportunities were reported as behavioral strategies used to address workplace alertness. Compared to other environmental features, daylight and thermal comfort were perceived to be more important to addressing workplace alertness ( p < .05). Conclusions: By optimizing the physical environment and organizational policies and providing education programs, we have an opportunity to support healthcare professionals in managing sleepiness and maintaining alertness at work. In addition, such system level interventions may reduce unhealthy choices such as frequent caffeine intake to keep alert. The development of multidisciplinary evidence-based guidelines is needed to address sleepiness and alertness to improve workplace safety in healthcare facilities.

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Healthcare workers’ training and information levels over an occupationally acquired Ebola virus disease

LaboratoriumsMedizin ◽

10.1515/labmed-2015-0068 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 39 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Florian H. Seeger ◽

Sabine Wicker ◽

Holger F. Rabenau ◽

Timo Wolf ◽

René Gottschalk

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Workplace Safety ◽

Popular Science ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Total Study Population ◽

Laboratory Workers ◽

High Level

AbstractHundreds of West African healthcare workers (HCW) have become ill with Ebola virus disease (EVD) and died during the recent outbreak. The occurrence of occupational infections in laboratories could be due to the lack of use of personal protective equipment, the failure to implement specific regulations about the use of equipment and how to work with hazardous materials. Our study attempted to assess the information as well as training level of HCW of a German high level isolation unit and their concern over an occupationally acquired EVD.During the recent Ebola virus outbreak a survey was conducted among HCWs, using an anonymous questionnaire.Although 70% of our total study population stated that they have all the information needed to care for Ebola patients, only 18.2% of laboratory workers and 29.4% of the HCW of the virology department felt sufficiently trained. The HCW rated the Internet (64.3%) and the daily press (54.3%) as the most important sources of information. Medical literature (45.7%) and official institutions (40.4%) were rated less often.Formulated pointedly, the HCW turned to popular science to get the information they need to feel safe. Further in house training regarding practical skills and reference to scientific literature would be a better solution to ensure workplace safety.

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