Biological Agents in the Workplace

We hope you will enjoy this review of safety materials produced for All Creatures Animal Hospital. This element of the campaign concerns the biological hazards that can be encountered in the workplace. 

Hazardous Biological agents can be found nearly everywhere in your workplace. But, with a few precautions, you can maximize your safety and your health!

 Food & Water

Food and water can contain mold & yeast, as well as agents that cause Legionnaires, Staph, or Hepatitis.

Protect Yourself:

·   Regularly sanitize cooking utensil and surfaces.

·   Always check expiration dates

·   Store food at correct temperatures.

·   Find out if your drinking water pipes are mold-free.

·   Wash your hands!

Direct Human Transfer

BBVs (blood-borne viruses), such as HIV, and Hepatitis B and C can be transferred through blood. Skin infections and amniotic fluids can also transfer agents.

Protect Yourself:

·   Cover broken skin with waterproof dressings.

·   Get regular immunizations.

·   Always wear proper protective gloves & clothing.

·   Wash your hands!

Accidents & Spills

Any spill of hazardous materials can be potentially dangerous.

Protect Yourself:

·   Be aware of decontamination and emergency procedures.

·   Practice safe sample transport.

·   Always use bio safety labels.

·   If something does spill, dispose of your cleaning materials correctly.

·   Use chemical disinfection to clean the area.

·   Wash your hands!

In the Air

Wash Your Hands!

Washing your hands is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent infection. Follow these steps to wash your hands:

1. Wet your hands with warm, clean, running water and apply soap.
2. Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces, including under your fingernails.
3. Continue rubbing hands for 15-20 seconds.
4. Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
Risk Prevent has also developed a downloadable poster to explain toxic chemical exposures in the workplace. If you would like to see this poster, click here.

Lessen the Beastly Burden

We hope you will enjoy this review of safety materials produced for All Creatures Animal Hospital. This element of the campaign concerns the physical hazard of lifting heavy weights. 

Lifting a reluctant St. Bernard or a fully anesthetized Suffolk ram can be a real pain. To reduce the risk of employee injury, All Creatures Animal Hospital is pleased to be implementing a program to “Lessen the Beastly Burden”.

Our program will utilize assistive devices to dramatically reduce the need to lift our largest patients. In January 2011 the small animal clinic will acquire two hydraulic lift exam tables, a transfer gurney, and sliding transfer device for the small animal surgery suite. The large animal clinic will acquire an overhead hoist for the large animal surgery suite.

This program will benefit employees in reducing the risk of back, shoulder, and knee injuries during lifts and injuries incurred from struggling animals in the exam and treatment rooms. Our animal patients will benefit from reduced stress during exams and safer transfers from our surgical prep areas to the operating rooms.

In-servicing on the new equipment will begin shortly after delivery.

We expect to benefit at several levels with the introduction of our assistive devices. Nursing homes implementing injury prevention programs minimizing manual lifting of patients experienced significant reductions in the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders and lost days of work among direct caregiving staff. Employees and patients also benefited from increased ease of transfers. Employers realized benefits in the form of reduced worker’s compensation costs, and savings realized from reduced turnover due to job related injuries. (1) Costs associated with acquiring transfer devices were quickly offset by savings realized from injury prevention and employee retention (2). Several occupational safety companies offer programs to assist workplaces with implementation of  zero-lift programs (3). Adaptation of these programs can be made utilizing commonly available veterinary hospital equipment for animal hospitals (4).

References and resources:

1) Guidelines for Nursing Homes, Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration,

http://www.osha.gov/ergonomics/guidelines/nursinghome/final_nh_guidelines.html

2) Lifting People, Research Profile, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Graduate School, Fall 2001, Vol. 24, No. 1

http://www.graduateschool.uwm.edu/research/spectrum/snapshots/archives/research-profile/Archive/Vol24No1/garg.html

3) No Lift Program for Healthcare, WorkSafe Products, St. Louis, Mo

http://www.wsergo.com/Files/NoLift.doc

4) DRE Veterinary Supply

http://www.dreveterinary.com

Sharps Injuries - Needlesticks

We hope you will enjoy this review of safety materials produced for All Creatures Animal Hospital. This element of the campaign concerns the physical hazard of sharps injuries.

Concerning your Safety
Sharps Injuries - Needlesticks

An informational poster is available for download: NeedlesticksPoster.PDF (156 KB).



What are needlesticks? Why should I be concerned?

Of injuries endured by health care workers, one considered to be the most common are “needlestick” injuries (a sharps injury), or commonly referred to as “needlesticks” (1). A needlestick is defined as a “penetrating stab wound from a needle that may result in exposure to blood or body fluids. (2)”

Needlesticks have been considered under-reported in both human and veterinary medicine (2). In a 2009 survey of 226 veterinary technicians, 93% reported to have had at least one needlestick injury in their career (3).

Although needlesticks in veterinary medicine do not include transmission of such diseases as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B & C, health concerns do include:

• Infections
• Physical trauma
• Severe lacerations, in cases of animal movement during the injection (1).

There is also risk for exposure to substances, such as anesthetics, euthanasia, chemotherapeutics, and vaccines (e.g. live attenuated strains), which can cause disease and extensive systemic issues in humans.

In 2000, the Needle Safety and Prevention Act was passed in the US to address needlestick-related injuries. It estimated that 62 to 88% of sharps injuries could have been possibly averted through using safer medical devices (4). A study by Italian researchers showed:

• 74% of injuries were due to incorrect needle handling by a health care worker
• 24% of remaining injuries could have been avoided through use of safety devices (5).

Safety devices include:

• Retractable & resheathable winged steel needles – retracting the needle into a protective sheath after use
• Bluntable needles (butterfly-type needles) or blunt needles
• Hinged recapping sheaths - sheath is enclosed over needle after withdrawal
• Needleless IV systems (1).

The use of safety devices was associated with a 74% reduction in needlesticks when collecting blood (1).


What can I do to prevent needlestick injuries?

The below steps can help prevent needlestick injuries:

• Do not walk around with an uncapped needle.
• Do not uncap needles with your mouth.
• Place sharps disposal containers in all areas where needles may be used.
• Dispose needles into sharps disposal containers immediately after use, and never use a temporary or unapproved disposal container.
• Do not overfill sharps disposal containers beyond their fill limit.
• Do not remove materials from a sharps disposal container.
• Avoid recapping needles.
• Educate all staff and volunteers on proper handling and disposal of sharps and needles.
• Report all sharps injuries and information regarding any contributing circumstances (1).

References:

1. Weese JS, Jack DC. Needlestick injuries in veterinary medicine. The Canadian Veterinary Journal. 2008 August; 49(8): 780–784. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2465782/. Accessed 22 September 2010.
2. Definition of Needlestick injury. MedicineNet.com. 2003 November. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=25492. Accessed 23 September 2010.
3. Weese JS, Faires M. A survey of needle handling practices and needlestick injuries in veterinary technicians. The Canadian Veterinary Journal. 2009 December; 50(12): 1278–1282. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2777292/. Accessed 23 September 2010.
4. Needlestick safety and prevention act. 2000. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=106_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ430.106. Accessed 23 September 2010.
5. Castella A, Vallino A, Argentero P, Zotti C. Preventability of percutaneous injuries in healthcare workers: A year-long survey in Italy. J Hosp Infect 2003;55:290-294.

Who can I contact if I have any questions or concerns?

• Please report any sharps- related injuries to your supervisor immediately.
• For more information on proper sharps disposal or related injuries, you are welcome to contact RiskPrevent Consulting client services at: 1-800-NNN-NNNN or info@riskprvconsult.com
  

Additional Resources Include:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/#prevent

Occupational Safety & Hazard Administration (OSHA):
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/bloodbornepathogens/index.html

Hit Our Gym, Not Just Our Time-clock!

The health of a company’s workforce is an important driver in that company’s success.  An unhealthy workforce can significantly impact employers through reduced productivity and, for those who sponsor employee health benefits, can increase health care-related costs.

Citing overall obesity statistics in the US…

·       8 out of 10 individuals, over the age of 25, are considered overweight (1).

·       Among US workers:

o   During the 1988-1994’s, 44% of US workers were classified as normal weight and 20% were considered obese based on body mass index (BMI).

o   From 1999-2000, those classified as normal weight dropped to 34% and obese increased to 29% (2).

Increasing weight can lead to increased prevalence of cardiovascular conditions, such as:

·       Hypertension - high blood pressure

·       Dyslipidemia - abnormal amount of lipids, like fat and/or cholesterol, in the blood

·       Metabolic syndrome - combination of medical disorders increasing the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease (2)

Work environments can also be a source of mental stress.  At a WorldAtWork Conference, hosted in Dallas in 2010, 82% of employers surveyed cited that health care costs were “significantly or moderately impacted by worker stress (3).”

The consideration of hosting an on-site fitness facility, as well as focused health and wellness programs, has the potential of improving the immediate and long-term health and morale of employees, and reducing health costs.

On-site fitness facilities can involve or include the following facilities and programs:

·       Traditional gyms, including: treadmills, stationary bikes, weights/weight machines

·       Structured fitness programs and classes, including: aerobics, yoga, or Pilates

·       Wellness classes, including: weight, diabetes management, or smoking cessation programs

·       Stress reduction and management programs

Having an on-site fitness facility can aid those employees who:

·       Do not have time or access, outside of work, to gym or fitness facility

·       Do not have the personal funds to invest in a gym membership

On-site fitness facilities do require a financial investment by the employer.  But this investment has the potential short-term benefits of increased productivity and decreased absenteeism, as well as improving employee satisfaction and retention in the long-term.  This can provide longer term cost savings for the employer (4).

The “Hit Our Gym, Not Just Our Time-clock!” program recommends the following steps and considerations in establishing your own on-site fitness facility and wellness program:

·       Survey employees to gauge interest in an on-site fitness facility. 

·       Coordinate with your legal department regarding all liability issues.

·       Consider hiring a qualified fitness management vendor to help design, initiate, and potentially manage your on-site fitness facility.  Research and coordinate with vendor on purchasing equipment, such as weight lifting and cardio machines.

·       Coordinate with your finance and facilities department on all cost and space concerns.  Consider developing a formal business plan (recommended).

·       Consider contacting, and possibly hiring, a consultant or specialist to conduct bi-weekly employee sessions on weight, chronic condition (diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.), or stress management.  Ensure sessions are available to all employees at accessible times.

To help encourage utilization of your facility and programs, consider the following:

·       Have employees log their activities weekly.

·       Offer incentives to employees that meet certain fitness goals (using above log), such as:

o   Added bonuses to wages

o   Gift cards

o   Additional vacation hours

o   Increased funding to employee health care savings accounts (if offered and coordinated with health care provider)

·       Consider fitness competitions among company departments.  Departments set fitness goals, and those that meet their goals, by a specific time period, are incentivized.

Additional Resources

·       Hoffacker Fitness: A new way to think about corporate health
http://www.hoffackerfitness.com/Corporate%20Fitness.pdf

·       QuintCareers.com: “Workplace Wellness Programs”
http://www.quintcareers.com/workplace_wellness.html

·       AllBusiness: “Workouts at Work”
http://www.allbusiness.com/labor-employment/compensation-benefits-employee/14508772-1.html

·       HealthSource Solutions – consulting service
http://www.healthsource-solutions.com/our-services

References

1.     Obesity Statistics. Fast & Quick Weight Loss.  2009. http://www.fastandquickweightloss.com/obesity/obesity-statistics.htm. Accessed 24 September 2010.

2.     Hertz R, McDonald M. Obesity in the United States Workforce. Pfizer US Pharmaceuticals. 2004 December. http://www.pfizer.com/files/products/Obesity_in_the_United_States_Workforce.pdf. Accessed 24 September 2010.

3.     Tsikoudakis M. Most employers trying reduce workplace stress: Survey. Business Insurance. Crain Communications, Inc. 2010 July. http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20100708/NEWS/100709946. Accessed 24 September 2010.

4.     Employee Health and Fitness: On-site employee fitness centers. BusinessKnowledgeSource.com. 2010. http://www.businessknowledgesource.com/health/onsite_employee_fitness_centers_030256.html. Accessed 24 September 2010.

Ache-y Break-y Work Space

How would it feel if your work space was tailored just for you? Your chair comfortably supports you, your monitor is just the right distance away, and your arms just the right height for your keyboard? Well, now you can find out!

RiskPrevent will be offering Occupational Therapy ergonomic assessments for all employees during 2011 to help fine-tune your work environment for optimum ergonomics.

Wondering if your workspace is ergonomically safe?

How will ergonomics help me?

Ergonomics is the science of designing your work environment to facilitate your highest level of function, promote health, and prevent injury. It also identifies ways to adjust the work environment to accommodate injuries or disabilities that interfere with someone’s ability to work. A well-designed work space can help prevent common ergonomic-related complaints such as eyestrain, head, back, neck, shoulder, and wrist pain. The occupational therapist will work with you to adjust your chair, desk, monitor, and lighting to fit your body. Our therapist will also coach us on good posture, and how to fine-tune our work spaces for optimum comfort and efficiency. Ergonomic assessments will also help us identify and eliminate other risk factors for injury, for instance tasks requiring repetitive movements, awkward postures, or lifting heavy loads. (1)

What can I do to help myself?

Pay attention to your posture. Be pro-active, speak up if you identify a problem that interferes with your ability to work comfortably. Follow the guidelines in your individualized ergonomic assessment. And finally, ask for a reassessment if things just aren’t feeling right down the road. (1, 2)

How do I learn more?

To learn more about how to optimize your work environment visit these websites:

1) Tips for Living, Ergonomics, Occupational Therapy in the Workplace, American Occupational Therapy Association

http://www.promoteot.org/CG_Ergonomics.html

2) Workplace Ergonomics, Oklahoma State University, Employee Health Services, Safety Training

http://ehs.okstate.edu/kopykit/Office%20Ergonomics1.PDF

3) Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NIOSH workplace Safety and Health Topic

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ergonomics/

Smoking Cessation Campaign

Smoking addiction

Tobacco contains the chemical nicotine. Smoking cigarettes leads to a dependence on nicotine. Cessation of smoking leads to physiological symptoms of withdrawal. It is believed that very few smokers can successfully quit the habit in their very first attempt. Many studies indicated that many smokers find it difficult to quit, even after they get afflicted with tobacco related diseases. A serious commitment and resolve is required to arrest nicotine dependency. Tobacco use leads most commonly to diseases affecting the heart and lungs, with smoking being a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and cancer (particularly lung cancer, cancers of the larynx and mouth, and pancreatic cancer).

Methods of smoking cessation

•  Cold turkey
•  Cut down to quit
•  Pharmacological
•  Psychosocial approaches                                             
•  Smoking cessation services
•  Self-help
•  Substitutes for cigarettes
•  Alternative medical approaches

Intervention and Prevention

• evidence-based interventions to help smokers quit
• policies making workplaces and public places smoke-free
• voluntary rules making homes smoke-free
• initiatives to educate the public regarding the health effects of secondhand smoke

Side effects

•  Duration of nicotine withdrawal symptoms
•  Weight gain
•  Depression

6 Health benefits

• Immediate effects of smoking cessation include:
  
  
  • Within 20 minutes, blood pressure decreases, pulse returns to its normal level
  • After 8 hours, carbon monoxide levels in the blood return to normal, oxygen level increases
  • After 24 hours, chance of heart attack starts to decrease; breath, hair and body stop smelling like smoke
  • After 48 hours, damaged nerve endings begin to recover; sense of taste and smell improve
  • After 72 hours, the body is virtually free of nicotine; bronchial tubes relax, breathing becomes easier
  • After 2–12 weeks, lungs can hold more air, exercise becomes easier and circulation improves
  Longer-term effects include:
  • After 1 year, the risk of coronary heart disease is cut in half
  • After 5 years, the risk of stroke falls to the same as a non-smoker
  • After 10 years, the risk of lung cancer is cut in half and the risk of other cancers decreases significantly
  • After 15 years, the risk of coronary heart disease drops, usually to the level of a non-smoker
  
  
  RiskPrevent is ready to assist employees in their effort to stop smoking. Quarterly classes and an ongoing support group for smoking cessation will begin in 2011. Keep visiting this site for more information.
• References:
• 
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_cessation
  http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4731
  http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/tobaccorelateddiseases/a/smokingrisks.htm

Eat Well, Live Well!

What can healthy eating

do for YOU?

 

Lower your blood pressure and cholesterol

Eating certain foods, such as whole grains and Omega-3 fatty acids, can improve your BP and cholesterol levels.

Give you more energy to do things you love

The right combination of foods will give you the calories and the nutrients your body needs to run at its highest standards.

Help manage and prevent diseases Proper nutrition can not only prevent some diseases, like osteoporosis and diabetes, but can help manage others, such as cancer and heart disease.

Get you to—and keep you at—a healthy weight

The right diet can provide you with proper nutrition and help you manage your weight.

How RiskPrevent Consulting can help YOU start to make healthy eating choices!

 

Cafeteria Labels

We will be providing nutrition info for foods in your cafeteria. We will also be starting the “Gold Star” plan, which will place a gold star on healthy options.

Visits to a Registered Dietitian

RiskPrevent is proud to offer each employee with one visit to a registered dietitian, who will provide employees with individualized nutrition plans.

Nutrition Corner

You will soon notice a bulletin board in your office that will offer a rotation of nutrition tips, recipes, and other tips to help you eat healthier.

 

For More Information:

The American Dietetic Association: http://www.eatright.org/

Moderation Nation: http://www.hersheys.com/moderationnation

You Lose, You Win!

This year, our company will start a weight loss campaign: You lose, You win!!

Obesity can have negative effects on your health. It puts you at higher risk for: heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, difficulty breathing, osteoarthritis, and certain types of cancer.

Main causes for weight gain:

-    Excessive dietary calories

-    Lack of physical activity

-    Genetic susceptibility

-    Medical conditions

Treatment strategy:

1- Dieting

2- Physical activity

3- Medications (when the first 2 options fail)

4- Surgery (in extreme cases)

“You lose, You win!!”

Employees are encouraged to lose weight this year. Not only will they become healthier, but also they will receive a raise. Yes, 5% of our raise budget this year will be distributed to the top 3 winners. Winners are ranked by the percentage of weight they lose according to their weight the day the campaign starts.

If you are not obese or overweight, you are encouraged to maintain your current weight, if you succeed in doing so, you will earn one day of extra vacation.

Good luck to all of you!

To help you reach your goal:

-    Four teaching sessions about weight loss will be held in the conference room on a quarterly basis. Topics will focus on how to choose healthy food, how to count calories, and how to measure your food portions.

-    Three treadmill machines will be installed in the employees' lounge for those of you who would like to stay after-hours for a workout.

Resources for Dieting and Exercise at Work:

Healthy Meetings Guide - How to integrate healthy foods and activities with business meetings

Easy, Healthy Workplace Snacks

Stairwell Initiative - Help us motivate our employees to take the stairs!

Your success is our success