Occupational exposure among staff at a women and children hospital

Abstract:

Objective To investigate occupational exposure among staff in a women and children hospital, and evaluate occupational exposurerelated risk factors and preventive measures.MethodsData of occupational exposure among 55 staff in JanuaryDecember 2012 was analyzed. ResultsA total of 55 staff suffered 57 times of exposure. Exposure sources of 31 times (54.39%) were unidentified, 26 (45.61%) were identified.Of 57 times of exposure, 82.46% (47 times) occurred in cleaners and nurses, incidence of occupational exposure was 9.76% and 5.32% respectively; the top three departments of occupational exposure were departments of outpatient and emergency (29.51%), obstetrics (9.80%), and cleaning company(9.76%); the incidence of occupational exposure was 87.72% (50 times) in staff with length of service ≤3 year. Sharp injury was the major types of exposure, which accounting for 94.74%(54 times); the main medical devices that caused injuries were scalp needles (42.11%) and syringe needles (19.30%). The major procedures involved in injury were syringe needle removal (29.83%) and medical waste disposal (28.07%).ConclusionCleaners, nurses and junior staff are high risk population for occupational exposure, in order to reduce the incidence of occupational exposure, corresponding measures should be taken, education about occupational precaution should be performed, management on key departments should be intensified.