WHMIS and Infection Control Quiz

WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System)

• WHMIS is a program that ensures worker "Right to Know" about hazardous materials in the workplace.
• The purpose is to reduce injuries from hazardous materials.
• The 1988 version remained largely unchanged until a comprehensive update in 2015, introducing more detailed hazard classifications and additional hazard symbols (exploding bomb, health hazard, environment).
• A common symbol in healthcare is the biohazard symbol, used for containers of regulated waste or potentially infectious materials (blood, etc.).

Bloodborne Pathogens

• Bloodborne pathogens are disease-causing microorganisms (viruses, bacteria) carried in blood.
• Examples include HIV, Hepatitis B & C, and AIDS.

Sharps Safety

• Avoid recapping or bending contaminated needles.
• Dispose of sharps in designated boxes to prevent injury to others.

Infection Transmission

• Modes of Transmission:

  • Contact (e.g., bloodborne pathogens, direct contact)
  • Airborne (tiny droplets suspended in air)
  • Droplet (larger droplets landing on surfaces)
  • Vector (organisms carrying pathogens)

• Chain of Infection:

  • Infectious agent: The pathogen
  • Reservoir: Where the pathogen lives (e.g., skin, water, contaminated objects)
  • Portal of exit: How pathogen leaves the reservoir
  • Portal of entry: How pathogen enters a new host
  • Susceptible host: A person vulnerable to infection

• Breaking the chain of infection: Safe food handling, proper waste disposal, vaccines, PPE, hygiene, disinfection, and getting screened all contribute to breaking the chain of infection.

Infection Control Terminology

• Microorganism (microbe): A small living organism (not visible without a microscope).
• Pathogen: A microorganism that causes disease.
• Fomite: Contaminated non-living object (e.g., doorknob).
• Asepsis: Preventing infection or disease.
  • Medical asepsis: Reducing microorganisms, protecting the worker.
  • Surgical asepsis: Removing all microorganisms, protecting the patient
• Disinfectant: Eliminating most pathogens (not all).
• Sterilization: Eliminating all microorganisms.
• Antiseptic: Chemical applied to living tissue to reduce infection risk.
• Opportunistic infection: Infection caused by weakened body defenses.
• Nosocomial infection: Infection acquired in a healthcare facility.
• Cross-contamination: Microorganisms transferring from one person or object to another.
• Standard precautions: Basic infection control practices (assuming everyone is potentially infectious).
• Transmission-based precautions: Additional precautions for known infectious illnesses.

Standard and Transmission Based Precautions

• Standard Precautions: Basic infection-control practices done by all healthcare workers in every situation, considering everyone potentially infectious. This practice includes handwashing and disinfection for all situations.
• Transmission-Based Precautions: Additional measures if an infection is known to be present, such as using PPE and sterilization procedures that supplement standard precautions when necessary.

Asepsis (Medical and Surgical)

• Medical Asepsis: Reducing microorganisms, protecting the worker. Practices include handwashing, disinfection, wearing non-sterile PPE, and handling contaminated items
• Surgical Asepsis: Removing all microorganisms, protecting the patient. Practices include sterile procedures, sterile instruments, and wearing sterile PPE.

Infection Control Risks and Consequences

• Patient Risks: Infection, bleeding, anesthetic complications
• Worker Risks: Exposure to bloodborne pathogens, infection, physical strain
• Consequences of improper infection control: Increased risk of infection, potentially life-threatening sepsis, organ failure, or death.

Sterile Field

• Sterile field: A designated area kept free from microorganisms to maintain sterility. (A 2-inch perimeter is considered unsterile.)
• Sterile instruments: Sterile instruments and equipment's can be verified by properly verifying a sterile package hasn't been punctured.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• PPE includes gloves, gowns, eye protection, masks, and hats.
• Donning order: Hand hygiene, gown, hat, mask, eye protection, and finally gloves.
• Doffing order: Gloves first, then gown, wash hands, eye protection, mask, then hat, and finally, wash hands again.

Handwashing

• Handwashing is critical to prevent infections.
• Hand hygiene encompasses all types of hand cleaning. It’s important to use proper technique.

Body Mechanics

• Rules of Body Mechanics:
  • Wide base of support.
  • Bend from hips and knees, not the back.
  • Use strong muscles (legs/arms) not weak muscles (back).
  • Keep objects close to the body.
  • Avoid twisting.
  • Use body weight.
  • Avoid continuous bending.
  • Get help with heavy objects.
• Wheelchair Safety: Lock brakes before/after patient use, avoid putting hands near wheels when moving, and maintain an appropriate speed.
• Working height: Height for safe patient examination.
• Transfer procedure: Ensure hands are clean, set patient to appropriate working height.
• Hoyer Lift Safety: Proper training necessary; assess patient, inspect lift, and clear area.

Consequences of poor body mechanics

• Back pain, serious body injury, and spinal dysfunction, joint degeneration.

Test your knowledge on the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) and infection control practices. This quiz covers hazardous materials, bloodborne pathogens, sharps safety, and modes of infection transmission. Ensure you're informed to maintain safety in the workplace!