Occupational Health & Healthcare Worker Safety Flashcards

A nurse sustains a needlestick injury from a needle used on a patient with known HIV infection. What is the CORRECT immediate sequence of actions?

Answer: Wash the wound immediately with soap and water, report to occupational health, and initiate post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) within 2 hours

Immediate washing with soap and water removes contaminated material. PEP should begin as soon as possible (within 2 hours — maximum 72 hours) to be effective. Squeezing or applying a tourniquet may increase tissue trauma without clear benefit. Delay in PEP initiation significantly reduces efficacy.

According to the hierarchy of controls for workplace hazards, which control measure provides the HIGHEST level of worker protection?

Answer: Elimination of the hazard at the source

The hierarchy of controls (most to least effective): Elimination > Substitution > Engineering Controls > Administrative Controls > PPE. Eliminating the hazard entirely provides the highest protection. PPE is the last resort because it requires continuous correct use and places the burden on the individual worker.

A radiology technician asks about the ALARA principle. Which statement BEST describes its application in healthcare?

Answer: Radiation exposure should be kept as low as reasonably achievable using time, distance, and shielding

ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) is the guiding principle of radiation protection. The three pillars are: minimize time of exposure, maximize distance from the source (inverse square law), and use appropriate shielding. It applies to all radiation workers and patients, not just specific groups.

A nurse reports recurring lower back pain after frequently repositioning bariatric patients without assistive devices. Which intervention BEST prevents musculoskeletal injury in this situation?

Answer: Implement a patient handling policy with mechanical lift equipment and 'no manual lift' policy for dependent patients

Mechanical patient lifting equipment (ceiling hoists, portable lifts) combined with a safe patient handling policy is an engineering + administrative control that eliminates unsafe manual lifting. Training alone (personal lifting technique) is insufficient because safe manual lifting of dependent adults is biomechanically impossible regardless of technique.

A healthcare worker who regularly handles cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs without adequate PPE is MOST at risk for which long-term occupational health effect?

Answer: Reproductive toxicity, teratogenicity, and increased carcinogenic risk

Cytotoxic drugs (chemotherapy agents) are classified as hazardous drugs due to their genotoxic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic properties. Chronic occupational exposure through skin absorption, inhalation of aerosols, or ingestion is associated with adverse reproductive outcomes and increased cancer risk. Proper PPE (gloves, gown, face protection) and closed-system drug transfer devices are mandatory.

Under Dubai Health Authority occupational health regulations, what is the recommended maximum permissible noise level for continuous 8-hour occupational exposure?

Answer: 85 dB(A)

85 dB(A) over an 8-hour time-weighted average is the internationally recognized occupational exposure limit (OEL) for noise, aligned with OSHA, WHO, and UAE federal labor regulations. Above this threshold, hearing conservation programs, engineering controls, and audiometric monitoring are mandated.