Occupational Risk Prevention for Caretakers

• Lecture 7 Topic: Prevention of Occupational Risks for Caretakers

Risks Related to Safety Conditions in the Workplace

• Falls
• Blows or cuts from objects or work elements
• Trapping by or between objects
• Crushing or falling objects by manipulation
• Electrical risks
• Risk of fire

How to Avoid Falls

• Keep hallways and work areas free of obstacles
• Use handrails when going up or down stairs slowly
• Distribute cables outside of passage areas or secure them to the floor or use protection
• Report anomalies to the person in charge
• Use adequate ladders to access high areas
• Clean up spilled liquids immediately from surfaces that slip

How to Prevent the Risk of Electrocution

• Do not handle electrical panels or equipment if unauthorized
• Do not overload electrical installations or connect electrical power cables without using connection plugs
• Do not unplug electrical devices by pulling on the cable, and do not handle electrical devices with wet hands or feet
• Report irregularities in electrical devices, cables, or connections to a superior
• Never put out an electrical fire with water, instead, use carbon dioxide or powder extinguishers

Health Risks

• Relate to exposure to microorganisms, cell cultures, and human endoparasites, through contact with patients, biological samples, or contaminated instruments
• The most common infectious diseases are those of viral etiology, some of which are Hepatitis B, C, and Delta (D) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or SIDA in Spanish

Exposure to Chemical Agents

• Certain chemical products stored and used in healthcare centers are considered hazardous by law
• Manipulating products such as sterilizers, disinfectants, formaldehyde, cytostatics, and cleaning products can have a toxic effect on the body
• Main groups of chemical products and specific work areas and include:
  • Anesthetic agents like nitrous oxide and halogenated anesthetics
  • Cytostatic compounds: preparation, and application
  • Medicines and products directly applied to patients, especially by inhalation
  • Sterilizing agents
  • Disinfectants
  • Preservatives and fixatives
  • Chemical products used in clinical analysis, microbiology, hematology, blood bank, molecular biology labs, etc.
  • Chemical products used in pathological anatomy and autopsies
  • Cleaning products: detergents, sodium hypochlorite, ethanol, disinfectants and rodenticides, etc.
  • Ozone
  • Resins (methyl methacrylate)
  • Chemical products used in non-healthcare activities: maintenance, workshops, gardening, etc.

Measures to Avoid Risks Associated with Exposure to Biological and Chemical Agents

• Use adequate Personal Protective Equipment (gowns, gloves, safety glasses or screens, masks), especially when caring for patients or doing work that may increase the possibility of contact with biological and chemical material
• Follow work procedures established by your immediate supervisor for handling and disposing of samples or treatments with biological risks, and use waste containers properly
• Exercise extreme caution when handling hazardous substances (cytostatics, sterilizers, etc.)
• Read the security labels and markings that exist on used chemical substances and follow them strictly
• Take personal hygiene measures, especially before meals, and do not mix work clothes contaminated with personal clothes
• Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas with biological or chemical risks
• Respect the sterilization cycles and do not open equipment before the unloading time (ethylene oxide)
• It is important to remember vaccination as a preventive measure against biological risks
• The Preventive Medicine service in the workplace can provide information about recommended vaccinations

How to Avoid Risk Associated with Exposure to Ionizing Radiation

• Respect signage in the indicated areas of radioactive influence
• Undergo specific medical examinations if exposed to radiation, and follow the instructions for Radiological Protection
• Notify a superior immediately if pregnant
• Use control dosimeters properly

Ergonomic Risks

• Manual Handling of Loads, defined by any operation of transporting or securing a load by one or several workers, such as lifting, placing, pushing, pulling, or moving, which, due to its characteristics or inadequate ergonomic conditions, entails risks, especially for workers' backs

Loads

• Defined as any object that can be moved, objects which are superior to 3kg

Characteristics of the Load

• If it is too heavy or large, difficult to grasp or hold, can cause injuries, or is unstable

Characteristics of the Work Environment

• Insufficient free space to handle the load, inadequate work environment such as one that does not allow manipulation of loads at a safe height or the adoption of correct postures, irregular, slippery, or unstable floors that can cause tripping or slipping, other factors such as vibrations, inadequate lighting and temperature and/or air circulation, manipulation of the load at different levels

Activity Demands

• When the efforts to be made are frequent or prolonged
• When the recovery or physiological rest period is insufficient
• When lifting, lowering, or transport distances are too great
• When the pace of the process is imposed or inappropriate

Characteristics of the Worker

• Inadequate physical characteristics to perform the task in question, inadequate work clothes and footwear, lack of adequate training and information about the risks involved or how to avoid them, when having a pre-existing back condition

Basic Safety Principles

• For practical purposes, objects weighing more than 3kg should be considered loads, because despite being a light load, they can entail a non-tolerable risk to the back if handled in unfavorable ergonomic conditions
• General maximum weight is 25 kg
• Maximum weight under higher protection, such as for women, young people, and older individuals, maximum weight is 15 kg
• Trained workers: maximum weight is 40 kg, but only in isolated situations
• The maximum recommended weight is for a load under ideal lifting conditions

If These Weights are Exceeded Follow These Preventive Measures

• Use mechanical aids or specific devices for tasks involving lifting heavy loads (typically above 40kg)
• Lift the load between two people when the use of mechanical aids is not possible; the handling of loads should be carried out between two people
• Reduce the weight of the loads handled in possible combination with the reduction of the frequency, etc.

Vertical Displacement of the Load

• Ideally, do not lift the load more than 25 cm
• Acceptable when the displacement is produced between shoulder and mid-thigh height
• Transfers should be avoided outside of these heights or above 175 cm

Waist Twisting

• Lifts with trunk twists are relatively frequent
• Workers are not aware of the risk they face when making lifts in this way
• Never turn at the waist; the proper way is to move your feet

Characteristics of the Load

• Ideal grip: a handle that permits a comfortable grip with the whole hand while the wrist is in a neutral position, without bending or tension
• Regular grip: if the load has handles or slits that are not optimal, such that they do not allow a comfortable grip like in the previous section
• Bad grip: if the requirements are not met

Method for Lifting Loads

• Spread your feet to provide a stable and balanced posture for lifting, with one foot forward in the direction of movement
• Bend your knees while keeping your back straight at all times and keep your chin tucked in. Do not bend your knees too much
• Contract your abdominal and gluteal muscles to stabilize your pelvis before moving an object
• Do not twist the trunk
• Do not adopt forced postures
• Hold the load firmly, using both hands, and close to the body
• The best type of grip would be a hook grip, but it can also depend on individual preferences
• If you need to adjust your grip, do it smoothly or support the load, otherwise the risks increases
• Lift smoothly and straighten your legs, keeping your back straight
• Do not jerk or move the load quickly or abruptly
• If lifting from the floor to an important height, such as the height of the shoulders or more, support the load halfway to change the grip
• Set the load down and then adjust it if necessary
• Space out the lifts, and alternate tasks, which will be established according to each person and the effort required by the job

Risks Related to Psychosocial Conditions

• Correct distribution of tasks and clear job definition
• Planning: temporary dosage, good definition of objectives
• Job enrichment (autonomy, feedback, different skills)
• Time management/flexibility of schedules
• Management styles: management by objectives
• Communication: boss/coworkers
• Information: that everyone knows their functions and the content of their work
• Adequate training

Occupational Stress

• Appears when there is a mismatch between the individual, the job, and the organization, and there are negative experiences
• Healthy Ways to Manage Stress:
  • Manage time better, learn to say "no", prioritize tasks, limit time with stressful people, avoid controversial topics, be more assertive, reframe problems, do not try to control the uncontrollable, share feelings, and do something enjoyable and include relaxation with a set time.