Occupational Health Management Plan

This study has focused on developing a risk management plan for radiation lab workers of Peter Mac. This hospital uses radiation for treatment and staffs of radiation department are facing risks of being exposed to radiation for a long time. Intensity of risks has been measured and explained. Workplace demography of radiotherapy unit of this hospital has been mentioned. This discussion has shed light on negative impact of radiation on human body. Literature relevant to intervention for minimizing impact of radiation hazard has been reviewed. It has been noticed that various hospitals and government of Australia have taken initiatives to protect workers from radiation in healthcare industry. Management and emergency plans have been developed and described in this study. At the end of this report, a conclusion has been drawn from overall discussion.

Occupational Health Management Plan
Student Name
Student ID
i

Executive Summary
This study has focused on developing a risk management plan for radiation lab
workers of Peter Mac. This hospital uses radiation for treatment and staffs of radiation
department are facing risks of being exposed to radiation for a long time. Intensity of
risks has been measured and explained. Workplace demography of radiotherapy unit
of this hospital has been mentioned. This discussion has shed light on negative impact
of radiation on human body. Literature relevant to intervention for minimizing impact
of radiation hazard has been reviewed. It has been noticed that various hospitals and
government of Australia have taken initiatives to protect workers from radiation in
healthcare industry. Management and emergency plans have been developed and
described in this study. At the end of this report, a conclusion has been drawn from
overall discussion.
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Contents
Executive Summary.......................................................................................................ii
Industry or organization name.......................................................................................2
An introduction..............................................................................................................2
Definitions......................................................................................................................2
Workplace demography.................................................................................................3
Assessment of risk..........................................................................................................3
Critical review of relevant literature..............................................................................4
Management Plan...........................................................................................................6
Emergency Response.....................................................................................................7
Evaluation......................................................................................................................9
Conclusion....................................................................................................................10
References....................................................................................................................11
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Industry or organization name
This occupational health management proposal is for radiation lab workers of the
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac).
An introduction
Healthcare organizations are using radiation to provide better treatment for patients.
Peter Mac has taken initiative to provide radiation therapy to cancer patients and lab
workers are providing their best effort in radiology department. However, radiation
lab workers are facing risks due to their long term exposure to radiation. This kind of
risks is considered as an occupational health hazard of healthcare industry. Aim of
this study is to develop a risk management plan for workers of radiology department
of Peter Mac. Purpose of this proposal is to help radiation lab workers to minimize the
effect of radiation hazard on their health.
Definitions
Radiation hazards: Exposure to high levels of radiation due to working in radiation
labs is called radiation hazards. This can have long-term impacts like cancer.
Medical radiation: Different radiations like x-rays, gamma rays and different other
forms of ionizing radiations, which are used for diagnosis and treatment in medical
industry is called medical radiation
Emergency plan: These are procedures and activities that are properly managed to
handle sudden and unexpected situations. This helps in preventing injuries, death, and
damages to property.
Occupational health hazard: Different hazard or illness that may occur due to
exposure in a workplace to biological, physical or chemical agents (Aluko et al.
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2016). For controlling this proper planning needs to be done by the management of an
organization.
Workplace demography
Peter Mac is an essential part of the Australian healthcare industry that provides
different cancer treatment and diagnosis services. For treatment purposes, they have
radiation laboratories. Moreover, they have labs that perform mammography
(Petermac.org, 2019). As opined by Maceachen et al. (2016), radiation labs are
isolated places in a hospital and no one can enter without proper permission. In
different departments, like surgery, oncology and therapy use of radiation can be seen
in peter Mac. In addition, during performance of MRI and CT scan use of radiation
can be seen. Different workers like technician, nurses, and therapists work in these
laboratories. Technicians perform essential work of diagnosis; therapists provide
different support activities to the patients. Moreover, nurses also support the process
of diagnosis; hence they are also exposed to the hazard. Workers of all ages are
exposed to this health hazard that includes young and experienced technicians and
experienced nurses and therapists. These experts and technicians need to be present
every time because patients arrive any time a day.
Assessment of risk
Hospital staff of radiology and radiotherapy department of Peter Mac is being
exposed to radiation for a long time. This hazard is creating health risks in these
workers. For example, it can be noticed that radiation enters through the skin of these
workers and reach the chromosome situated in the body cells. As opined by Ndejjo et
al. (2015), radiation can cause chromosomal damage and victim can suffer from
cancer in their later lives. Ionizing radiation is used in Peter Mac. And it affects the
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health of workers in radiology and radiotherapy department. Regular health check-up
of these workers are required and this practice must be included within the
organizational policy of Peter Mac.
The Australian government has already taken initiatives to protect health workers
from radiation hazard. Hardell (2017) have mentioned that the Work Health and
Safety Act 2011 have been introduced to protect all workers from occupational
hazards. This act provides guidance to hospitals such as Peter Mac. to ensure healthy
and safe workplace for all workers. ARPANSA (Australian Radiation Protection and
Nuclear Safety Agency) have developed codes that must be followed by Peter Mac to
maintain ethical practice in radiation labs. They must understand intensity of risks
associated with long term exposure to radiation and must take initiatives to solve this
issue.
Policy framework of Peter Mac needs to be changed as they need to include policy for
regular health check-up of radiation lab workers. On another hand, Martin & Sutton
(2015) have suggested that hospitals with radiology labs must include compensation
policy for workers who face health issues due to long term exposure to radiation.
Australian legal system has mentioned standard volume of radiation that can be
tolerated by human beings and this standard must be maintained by this hospital
management. It is important to educate staff regarding safety measures while working
in radiotherapy department.
Critical review of relevant literature
Radiation is harmful to people and actors of healthcare industry are aware of this fact.
For this reason, many organizations of this industry have taken different effective
initiatives to protect radiation lab workers from harmful effects of ionizing radiation.
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Many hospitals with cardiac catheterization labs are organizing training program for
their lab workers. As mentioned by Blackman Jr (2016), managers of hospitals are
organizing training programs to educate staff regarding necessary safety measures for
working in radiation lab. In Australia, radiation protection tools are on high demand
and these tools includes eye wears, gloves, caps, aprons, procedural protect staff and
others. These tools are being used by technicians to minimize negative impact of
radiation on their body. As contradicted by Sherer et al. (2017), provision of training
and use of safety tools cannot be considered as effective solutions to radiation
hazards. Code of practice developed by ARPANSA must be maintained by the
hospital authorities to protect the health of their workers. Many hospitals of Australia
change job shifts to allow workers to be exposed to radiation for a short time. Donya
et al. (2015) have narrated that the radiation regulation of Australia have mentioned
that 18.75 rem radiation is safe for body parts and 1.25 rem radiation is safe for the
entire body of radiation lab workers in 2007. Hospitals, which are running radiology
department, are aware of these standards and they provide their best effort to maintain
this standard. This aspect is considered as one of the interventions that can minimize
the effect of radiation hazards.
Healthcare organizations with radiation unit have included health check-up policy for
their radiation lab workers. This innovative idea has helped them to measure impact
of radiation on the body of their stuff. On another hand, Sun et al. (2016) have argued
that this kind of decision by the management of hospitals makes employees believe
that they are being taken care of by the management and they cooperate in this
process. Leakage of radiation is a common accident and it affects the health of lab
workers quickly. As per Wang et al. (2015), this kind of mishaps must be avoided by
implementing advanced technologies. Healthcare organizations are hiring expert
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engineers for developing safe machinery to avoid accidents in radiation labs. In
addition, it can be seen that Australian government is supporting employers to have
healthy as well as safe workplace. Leuraud et al. (2015) have contradicted that legal
system of Australia is controlling the activities of hospitals that use radiation for
treatment. Hospitals authorities are considering various interventions for avoiding
legal issues. This aspect is helpful in maintaining wellbeing of radiation lab workers.
Management Plan
Different steps can be followed to manage the risk of radiation in this hospital.
Identification of risks associated with radiation
This is the first step of this management plan that can be done by monitoring different
laboratories of this hospital. Radiotherapy, oncology and other departments that use
radiation for diagnosis and treatment must be monitored carefully for gaining
information about risks. As mentioned by FitzGerald et al. (2018), information like
length of shifts of workers who works in radiation labs can be collected. In addition,
feedback needs to be collected from other staff like nurses and therapists, those who
visit these labs is also essential. This can help the management team to gain proper
idea about the types of risks and extent of exposure.
Proper analysis of identified risks:
After monitoring and identification of risks, it is essential to analyze the risks properly
(Alavi et al. 2017). Risk can be evaluated by comparing with standards of dose
exposure for medical workers. If dose level is found high then appropriate action must
be taken. However, if the dose level is found lower than the standard measure. Then
future action plan must be designed.
Curing the risks:
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This is the next step of this management plan that can be done to avoid exposure to
radiation in Peter Mac Purchasing of improved technology like dosimeters can be
purchased by the management of this hospital. In addition, employees, who are
working in radiation labs must be provided with flexible working hours. This can help
to avoid long term exposure to harmful radiation (El-Sallamy et al. 2018). This will
help to increase quality of workplace and health hazards of workers due to radiation
can be reduced. Moreover, FitzGerald et al. (2018) argued that maintenance of
machinery that are used in diagnosis purposes needs to be maintained. Regular
servicing must be done to those machines and condition of machines must be
evaluated before purchasing refurbished machines. Harmful hazards of radiation can
be addressed completely if regular review of this process is maintained. Regular
health checks up of employees and monitoring performance of equipment is essential
(Sun et al. 2016).
Training and education to staff:
Another important step of this plan is the arrangement of training sessions regarding
provision of knowledge about hazards, use of control measures and other knowledge.
Employees of Peter Mac must be given proper knowledge about the harmful impacts
of radiation exposure. In addition, knowledge about the use of different control
measures needs to be imparted.
Emergency Response
Different emergency may occur in Peter Mac that includes leakages in radiation, fire
in radiation laboratories, which can harm both patients and workers. These risks may
occur anytime and a proper exit plan is essential. This plan can help management of
Peter Mac to eliminate risks by contacting various emergency services.
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Organization Name Contact Title Phone number
Emergency services XXX XXX 000
Ambulance XXX XXX XXXX
Fire XXX XXX XXX
Emergency numbers must be used at the time of any fire or leakage. Moreover, every
member of management must have these contact numbers.
Process Description of
process
Evacuation
point
Reference Support
document
1. Existing
laboratories
during fire
1. Use of emergency
stairs and doors must
be done during the
process of exit.
2. At the time of exit
during fire, use of fire
extinguisher must be
done to stop the
spreading of the fire.
From
emergency
exits
Policies related
to emergency in
the hospital can
be referred to.
Evacuation
plan
This table can help employees and management to understand the actions that need to
be taken during a case of emergency in radiation labs.
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Figure 1: Evacuation plan for radiology department
(Tool: Floorplancreator.net, 2019)
Evaluation
Process Impact Outcomes evaluation
Identification of risks
associated with
radiation
Different potential risks in
radiation labs can be
pointed out.
Condition of machinery and
level of radiation can be
known
Proper analysis of
identified risks
Level of the potential risks
can be known
Impact of risk on health of
lab workers can be known.
Curing the risks Proper technology can be
implemented
Risk level can be decreased
and avoided.
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Training and education
to staff
Expertise and knowledge
level of staff can be
increased
Staffs will have proper
knowledge about risks and
emergency plans.
The proposed plan can be monitored by a management team that needs to be formed.
This team will evaluate different steps of the plan as per standard guidelines.
Members of this board need to be headed by a director of managing committee of this
hospital. Evaluation of risks and monitoring can be done with the help of different
advanced technologies (Blackman Jr, 2016).
Gathering of information is an essential part of evaluation that can be done by using
tools like survey. This tool can be used to obtain information from employees
regarding workplace environment. On another hand, dosimeters can be used to
evaluate the dose level in radiation lab of this hospital.
Conclusion
At the end of this assignment, it can be said that emergency plan is very essential for
workers in a radiation lab. Peter Mac must apply strategies of this management plan,
which can be used to reduce harsh impacts of radiation. Several current procedures of
risk management in this hospital must be evaluated and a proper emergency plan must
be prepared. Different numbers need to be documented, which can be dialed during
the time of emergency. In addition, all process in the laboratories needs to be aligned
with global standards. This can help to reduce occupational health hazards among
workers who are exposed to radiation.
References
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workers’ knowledge, attitude, and practice to protect themselves against
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Aluko, O. O., Adebayo, A. E., Adebisi, T. F., Ewegbemi, M. K., Abidoye, A. T., &
Popoola, B. F. (2016). Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of occupational
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Donya, M., Radford, M., ElGuindy, A., Firmin, D., & Yacoub, M. H. (2015).
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El-Sallamy, R. M., Kabbash, I. A., El-Fatah, S. A., & El-Feky, A. (2018). Physical
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