Health And Safety of Staff Working in Endoscopy Unit

Health And Safety of Staff Working in Endoscopy Unit

Health And Safety of Staff Working in Endoscopy Unit

Introduction

PPE is defined in the Regulations as 'all equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to his health or safety', eg safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses. Hearing protection and respiratory protective equipment provided for most work situations are not covered by these Regulations because other regulations apply to them. However, these items need to be compatible with any other PPE provided. Cycle helmets or crash helmets worn by employees on the roads are not covered by the Regulations. Motorcycle helmets are legally required for motorcyclists under road traffic legislation.

Ensuring the safety of personnel working in endoscopy units is crucial. The environment itself must be assessed for problems that may result from inadequate or inconvenient physical conditions, such as inadequate lighting, but endoscopy personnel also should be aware of hazards they may encounter. Personnel working in endoscopy environments should follow a comprehensive safety program to prevent communication of diseases, address potential hazards from chemicals used in high-level disinfecting procedures, and ensure cleanliness of endoscopic instruments and equipment. In addition, necessary measures should be taken to address electrical and fire hazards and prevent negative effects from radiation and lasers (Bolyard 1998).

To allow the right type of PPE to be chosen, carefully consider the different hazards in the workplace. This will enable you to assess which types of PPE are suitable to protect against the hazard and for the job to be done. Ask your supplier for advice on the different types of PPE available and how suitable they are for different tasks. It may be necessary in a few particularly difficult cases to obtain advice from specialist sources and from the PPE manufacturer(Maibach 2005).

The Endoscopy Environment

Personnel working in endoscopy units should be assessed regarding their suitability for working in these environments. For example, cleaning and disinfecting endoscopes involves the use of chemicals that can emit toxic fumes and aggravate allergies, so individuals with respiratory problems (eg, asthma, latex allergy, chemical allergy) should be assessed for sensitivity before being employed in these departments. In addition, personnel with dermatitis or exudative skin lesions should not undertake direct patient care or equipment care until the condition resolves (Palabiyikoglu 1998).

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS: The space in which endoscopic procedures are performed should be separate from the space used for cleaning, disinfecting, sterilizing, and storing endoscopes and endoscopic equipment. Noise levels in the endoscopy room should be substantially lowered by installing sound insulation in walls and doors. The room should be adequately ventilated with general ventilation and air conditioning, and the floor should be kept clean and dry to prevent falls(Jordan 1992).

In the endoscopy procedure room, temperature and moisture should be controlled and proper illumination should be ...