Assessment of work-related accidents associated with waste handling in Belo Horizonte (Brazil)

As more urban solid waste is generated, managing it becomes ever more challenging and the potential impacts on the environment and human health also become greater. Handling waste - including collection, treatment and final disposal - entails risks of work accidents. This article assesses the perception of waste management workers regarding work-related accidents in domestic and health service contexts in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. These perceptions are compared with national data from the Ministry of Social Security on accidents involving workers in solid waste management. A high proportion of accidents involves cuts and puncture injuries; 53.9% among workers exposed to domestic waste and 75% among those exposed to health service waste. Muscular lesions and fractures accounted for 25.7% and 12.5% of accidents, respectively. Data from the Ministry of Social Security diverge from the local survey results, presumably owing to under-reporting, which is frequent in this sector. Greater commitment is needed from managers and supervisory entities to ensure that effective measures are taken to protect workers' health and quality of life. Moreover, workers should defend their right to demand an accurate registry of accidents to complement monitoring performed by health professionals trained in risk identification. This would contribute to the improved recovery of injured workers and would require managers in waste management to prepare effective preventive action.

Factors associated with occupational exposure to biological material among nursing professionals

Objective:

to identify factors associated with occupational exposure to biological material among nursing professionals.

Method:

a cross-sectional study was conducted in a high complexity hospital of a city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Nursing professionals were interviewed from March to November 2015. All ethical aspects were observed.

Result:

among the 226 professionals interviewed, 17.3% suffered occupational exposure to potentially contaminated biological material, with 61.5% being percutaneous. Factors such as age (p=0.003), professional experience in nursing (p=0.015), and experience at the institution (p=0.032) were associated with the accidents with biological material.

Conclusion:

most accidents with biological material among nursing professionals were percutaneous. Age, professional experience, and experience at the institution were considered factors associated with occupational exposure.

[Clinical treatment adherence of health care workers and students exposed to potentially infectious biological material]

OBJECTIVE

To assess adherence to clinical appointments by health care workers (HCW) and students who suffered accidents with potentially infectious biological material.

METHOD

A retrospective cross-sectional study that assessed clinical records of accidents involving biological material between 2005 and 2010 in a specialized unit.

RESULTS

A total of 461 individuals exposed to biological material were treated, of which 389 (84.4%) were HCWs and 72 (15.6%) students. Of the 461 exposed individuals, 307 (66.6%) attended a follow-up appointment. Individuals who had suffered an accident with a known source patient were 29 times more likely to show up to their scheduled follow-up appointments (OR: 29.98; CI95%: 16.09-55.83).

CONCLUSION

The predictor in both univariate and multivariate analyses for adherence to clinical follow-up appointment was having a known source patient with nonreactive serology for the human immunodeficiency virus and/or hepatitis B and C.

Good Practices For Infection Prevention and Control at a Psychiatric Hospital in Brazil

This exploratory cross-sectional study aims to investigate good practice for preventing and controlling infections in a psychiatric hospital and for limiting potential exposure to biohazards for nursing professionals at this hospital located in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The researchers directly and systematically observed 830 nursing procedures, 40.6% of which presented a moderate to high risk of biohazard exposure. Results indicate very low adherence to hand hygiene (1.2% before procedures, 2.9% after procedures), inappropriate use of gloves, and other instances of noncompliance to the standards of good practice for preventing and controlling infection, such as a lack of concurrent/terminal cleaning of dirty beds (132 instances) and careless manipulation of sharp devices (34 instances).

[Risk and vulnerability in the practice of professional healthcare]

The purpose of this study is to analyze the risks and vulnerability found in professional healthcare and the safe practices adopted based on academic research in the field of healthcare and nursing, by means of an integrative review. The articles were found in the LILACS and SCIELO databases,from the years 2005-2010, in a search for the descriptors vulnerability, risk, and occupational and personal health risks, establishing a sample of 21 articles. In basic healthcare, risks and vulnerabilities are related to the lack of resources needed for work, physical violence and emotional strain. In a hospital context, the problems are related to accidents with biological materials caused by improper use and failure to adopt protective measures, as well as excessive work and self-confidence. The importance of implementing public policies in worker health to improve working conditions and provide greater satisfaction and professional awareness is emphasized.

Acidentes com material biológico em trabalhadores de enfermagem do Hospital Geral de Palmas (TO)

RESUMO OBJETIVO: identificar os acidentes de trabalho com material biológico ocorridos com os trabalhadores de enfermagem do Hospital Geral de Palmas (HGP) e verificar a ocorrência de subnotificação no Serviço de Segurança do Trabalho (SST) do HGP. MÉTODO: estudo descritivo transversal, com dados coletados por meio de um questionário autoaplicável que foi respondido por 389 profissionais de enfermagem (91% do efetivo) nos meses de agosto e setembro de 2007. RESULTADOS: dentre os profissionais de enfermagem, 178 (45,7%) declararam já ter sofrido acidente com material biológico (55,6% por acidente perfurocortante e 44,4% com fluidos), sendo 106 (59,9%) técnicos de enfermagem, 57 (32%) auxiliares de enfermagem e 15 (8,4%) enfermeiros. Considerando todos os profissionais de enfermagem (n=389), com ou sem antecedente de acidente, os auxiliares constituíram o grupo mais exposto aos riscos de acidentes (54,3%), seguidos pelos técnicos (49,8%) e pelos enfermeiros (21,1%). Dos 178 profissionais que sofreram acidentes, 95 (53,3%) trabalhavam de 1 a 5 anos e 39 (21,9%) há mais de 10 anos. Dentre os 178 profissionais acidentados, apenas 64 registraram o acidente no SST, resultando em 64% de subnotificação. CONCLUSÃO: estes resultados evidenciam a necessidade de reformulação do protocolo de encaminhamento para o atendimento ao acidentado e a participação efetiva dos profissionais de enfermagem nessa reformulação.