S AFETY AND I NFECTION C ONTROL Sarah Woolard, Jessica Bozych, Lisa Anderson, Jessica Linn, Barb Lowell

SAFETY AND INFECTION CONTROLSarah Woolard, Jessica Bozych, Lisa Anderson, Jessica Linn, Barb Lowell

OVERVIEWTo educate patients and staff on work place

safety and infection control.

“The understanding that employee safety is just as important as patient safety must be constantly re-enforced so that nurses realize it is not ok to go home with a backache every day. It is a culture change and it is an important one.” -Karen Witzman

HAZARD CONTROLFire Prevention

Fuel, Oxygen, and HeatSpontaneous combustion

Paint Oily rags Oily waste

(2010). Saftey and Infection Control

HAZARD CONTROLFire Safety

RACERescueAlarmContainEvacuate/ Extinguish

(2010). SAFTEY AND INFECTION CONTROL


PassPull the PinAim the nozzleSqueeze the handleSweep



Class APaper or wood

Class BFlammable liquids or gases

Class CElectric equipment or wiring


HAZARD CONTROLElectric Shock

Ground Plugs Equipment that is used near any type of water

Overload circuits Connecting to many circuits to a single outlet

Extension Cords Never use extension cords us an approved power

strip

Proper Approval All equipment and circuits must be approved for

safety before being used after set up.(2010). Saftey and Infection Control

HAZARD CONTROLFalls and Collisions

Equipment put to close to a cornerStorage areas

Heavy items places on the floor or near the floorElectric cords should not be strung across

doorways or traffic areas If cord must be placed in areas tape down to the

floor to reduce tripping.


WORK PLACE SAFETYErgonomics

Good body mechanics is using the body in efficient and careful ways and includes good posture, balance, and using the largest muscles to do the heaviest work.

Most common injuries in the office is to the eyes and the back

Walsh, M. C. (2004, July 24).

WORK PLACE SAFETYEye Strain

Problems with the eyes in the office: Double vision Burning and dry eyes Eye fatigue Light sensitivity After images

Prevention Have good lighting No glare Use high quality monitor Take breaks from the computer Make sure you are blinking when at a computer for

long amounts of timeWalsh, M. C. (2004, July 24).

WORK PLACE SAFETYBACK, NECK, SHOULDER

Prevention Change positions every 20-30 minutes Warm up or stretch before activities Avoid twisting and bending Avoid over extending yourself Bend from your hips not you waits when lifting

Walsh, M. C. (2004, July 24).

WORK PLACE SAFETYBODY MECHANICS

You need to learn how the body works and moves so you can prevent injury

Make sure you always have good posture An exercise that may help is to squeeze your shoulders

blades together and pull your elbows behind your back. Do this and count to five.

Do not sit slumpy. Make sure you stand or sit with your shoulders and head erect and balanced all day. This will lessen future back pain.

Kalnitsky, A., MA. (1999, November 22).

WORK PLACE SAFETYCHEMICAL SPILL MANAGEMENT

Wear PPE Gloves, gowns, boots, shields/goggles, respiratory

equipment Bund – a wall of brick, stone, concrete, or other impervious

material, which may form part of or the entire perimeter of a compound and provides a barrier to retain liquid.

Hazardous Substance – substance that contains ingredients that may be harmful to health

Dangerous Goods - a hazardous substance that contains ingredients defined by the Dangerous Substance Act of 1979.

Chemical Spill Management.

WORK PLACE SAFETYCHEMICAL SPILL MANAGEMENT

CONTINUED Your office should have MSDS and everybody should

know where they are Immediately report and spill Follow written procedure Appropriately store all equipment Risk assessment includes nature of spill, quantity of spill,

location of spill Make sure you evaluate the situation before you start

cleaning


WORK PLACE SAFETY CHEMICAL SPILL MANAGEMENT

CONTINUED If there is a spill kit available....USE IT What to do:

Clear affected area Check people involved Isolate spill Contact emergency personnel if necessary Gather all information regarding spill Clean appropriately


ASSISTING PATIENTS TRANSFERRING PATIENTS

Stand in front of patient Make sure transfer belt is on securely Lift with your knees Make sure you legs are shoulder width apart Help the person lean forward and put both hands on the sides

of the patient grabbing the belt Instead of lifting them rock their weight to their hips and this

happens help them stand Turn them to the new chair and assist them down slowly Equipment available:

Wheelchairs Belts Canes Crutches

Two-Person Transfer. (2008).

IMMOBILIZATION The process of holding a joint or bone in place by using:

Splint Cast

Brace To prevent an injured area from moving while it heals

Restricts motion Reduce pain, swelling and muscle spasm In some cases to repair bones, tendons or ligaments

Also allows for proper alignment Immobilization usually extends from the joint above the

injury to the joint below the injury.

Immobilization. (2010).

IMMOBILIZATION Casts and Splints

Generally used with a broken bone Should not get wet Custom made Made from plaster or fiberglass

Fiberglass weighs less than plaster, is more durable, and allows more airflow

Splints are used for dislocated joint Finger injuries- fractures or Baseball finger Arm or leg immediately after injury before moving the person

Made from acrylic, polyethylene foam, plaster of paris, or aluminum


IMMOBILIZATIONSlings

Used to support the arm after fracture or other injury Generally used with a cast or splint Triangular bandage under arm and tied around neck

Braces Used to support, align, or hold a body part in the correct

position Can easily be removed for exercise Used with physical therapy Custom made or ready madeImmobilization. (2010).

IMMOBILIZATIONCollars

Generally used for neck injuries Cervical collars are used by emergency personnel at the scene

Traction Method for applying tension to correct the alignment of

two structures and hold them correct position Strongest form involves inserting a stainless steel pin

though a bony prominence attached by a horse-shoe shaped bow and rope to a pulley and weights suspended over the end of the pt’s bed

Must be balanced by countertraction Tilt bed Pt.’s body acts as counterweight Or use weights pulling in the opposite direction

Requires careful observation and adjustmentImmobilization. (2010).

IMMOBILIZATIONAftercare

After cast or splint is on: Elevate for 24 to 72 hours Raised above level of heart Rest

Fingers and toes can be exercised after casting Decreases swelling and stiffness

Ice injured area After cast, splint, brace is removed:

Careful exercise to regain muscle strength and motion Possible hydrotherapy Heat treatments Physical therapy


IMMOBILIZATIONRisks

Traction: Bedrest can lead to bedsores (decubitus ulcers) and skin

infection Can lead to build up of fluid or infection in lungs (pneumonia) UTI

Casts, splints, and braces: Decreased muscle tone Muscle shrinkage (atrophy) If immobilization doesn’t fit properly (too tight) can lead to loss of

circulation Excessive pressure over a nerve can cause irritation or possible

damage If fits too loose, or breaks or malfunctions it can lead to deformityImmobilization. (2010).

ACCIDENT AND INCIDENT REPORTS

Also referred to as Unusual Occurrence Reports All incidents must be reported no matter if the victim is a patient,

visitor, or staff member. Even minor accidents should be reported. Things that should be on the report:

WHO? The name of victim and person reporting WHAT? What happened? WHERE? Location of the incident and injury on the victim WHEN? The date and time of the accident or unusual occurrence Corrective actions or treatment administered

**It is very important to be as specific as possible when reporting and incident

(McGill University. (2009, January).

DISEASE TRANSMISSION Direct Contact- an infected person touching a non-

infected person Fomites/Indirect Contact- non-infected person

touching an object that has been infected Airborne Contamination- spread by dust containing

droplet nuclei Droplet Contamination- involves contact with the

mucous membranes when a person coughs, sneezes, or speaks

Vehicle Transmission- spread of infectious agents through food, water, blood, and drugs

Vector Transmission- occurs when an insect whose body is infected with the disease infects a new host

(Dionne, 2002)

INFECTIOUS DISEASES HIV AIDS Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E Tuberculosis MRSA Smallpox HPV STD’s

Dionne, S. I. (2002)

PREVENTING DISEASE TRANSMISSIONSTANDARD PRECAUTIONS

Wash hands Wear gloves Wear a protective gown Wear a mask Place needles and sharps in designated

disposal container


PREVENTING DISEASE TRANSMISSIONMEDICAL ASEPSIS

Microbial Dilution- reducing total number of organisms

Disinfection- destruction of pathogens by chemical agents

Sterilization- treating items with heat, gas, or chemicals to make them germ free

Good hand hygiene Good Housekeeping


INFECTION CONTROL Cycle of Infection: In order for a disease to

be transmitted there must be: An infectious organism A reservoir of infection A susceptible host And means of transportation from reservoir to

susceptible individual

Environmental Health… (2002)

INFECTION CONTROL Infectious Agents:

Viruses: Cannot multiply independently Invade a cell and stimulate formation of additional virus

particles Examples include: Influenza virus, HIV, herpesvirus,

rhinovirus (common cold) Hard to fight because of risk of harm to needed host cell

Bacteria: Single-celled organism Adapt to new conditions readily, have ability to mutate Can survive in the presence of antimicrobial drugs Cause tuberculosis, strep throat, infectious diarrhea

Environmental Health… (2002).

INFECTION CONTROL Infectious Agents:

Protozoa: Complex, single-cell animals Rarely invade the human body, some have the ability

to Can cause malaria

Fungi: Occur as single-celled yeasts Cause skin infections (athlete’s foot, ringworm),

respiratory infections, and affect people with compromised immune systems

Environmental Health… (2002).

INFECTION CONTROL Reservoir for Infection:

Moist, nutrient-rich, warm environment necessary Carriers who are not aware of hosting infectious

organisms Humans are most common, but microorganisms can

grow in any suitable environment not cleaned regularly

Susceptible Host: Fatigue, stress, malnutrition, illness, and injury cause

increased susceptibility

Beck, D. (2009).

INFECTION CONTROL Modes of Transmission:

Direct contact Fomites: object that has come in contact with

pathogenic organisms Vectors: Insects carrying an infectious organism

that cause Lyme disease, West Nile, or Yellow Fever

Vehicles: Anything that transports organisms, including food, water, and blood.

Airborne Contamination: Contaminated dust, inhaled

Droplet Contamination: Infected droplet contact with mucous membranes

Beck, D. (2009).

INFECTION CONTROL Surgical Asepsis:

Objects are sterile only when free of all microorganisms

Sterilization Process: Chemical sterilization

Gas sterilization Gas plasma technology Autoclave

Sterile Fields: Sterile Packages Sterile Opening Sterile Gloving Sterile Dressing Application and RemovalBeck, D. (2009).

BIBLIOGRAPHY Beck, D. (2009). Maintaining Asepsis Within a Sterile Field in Surgery. Retrieved from Infection

ControlToday,website: http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/articles/maintaining-asepsis- sterile-field.html#.

Chemical Spill Management. (n.d.). Human Resource Unit. Retrieved March 4, 2010, from http://www.unisa.edu.au/ohsw/procedures/chemicalspills.asp.

Environmental Health and Safety. (2002). Infection Control. Retrieved from Washington University in St. Louis website address: http://ehs.wustl.edu/new/infection.htm.

Immobilization. (2010). The free dictionary.com [Medical dictionary]. Retrieved March 9, 2010, from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/immobilization

Kalnitsky, A., MA. (1999, November 22). Body Mechanics 101. In SpineUniverse. Retrieved March 4,2010, from SpineUniverse database.

McGill University. (2009, January). Accident, incident & occupational disease report form. In Environmental health and safety. Retrieved from http://www.mcgill.ca/ehs .

Santa Clara County Emergency Medical Services Agency. (n.d.). Unusual occurrence report. In Emergency medical services agency. Retrieved March 9, 2010, from

http://www.sccemsagency.org

Two-Person Transfer. (2008). ICE Learning Center. Retrieved March 4, 2010, from SpineUniverse database.

Walsh, M. C. (2004, July 24). Ergonomic Standards. In spineuniverse.com, Retrieved March 4, 2010, from SpineUniverse.com website: http://www.spineuniverse.com/print/wellness/ergonomics/ergonomic-standards

WF, B.J. (1965, 10 28). Electric Shock Hazards in Radiology Departments. Retrieved March 1, 2010, from www.ajronline.org/cgi/reprint/95/4/976.pdf.

(2010). Saftey and Infection Control. In B. W. Long, E. D. Frank, & R. A. Ehrlich, Radiography Esssentials for Limited Practice (pp. 459-461). St.Louis: Saunders Elsevier.

Dionne, S. I. (2002). Healthline Connect to Better Health. Retrieved March 12, 2010, from Healthline Connect to Better Health: http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/disease-transmission

Documents

S AFETY AND I NFECTION C ONTROL Sarah Woolard, Jessica Bozych, Lisa Anderson, Jessica Linn, Barb Lowell