Occupational Safety and Health in Emergency Room Nursing in Saudi Arabia

This presentation explores the various types of hazards emergency room nurses face in Saudi Arabia and the efforts being made by the government to manage occupational health risks. It discusses toxic exposures, back injuries, stress, violence, radiation, and infectious disease exposure. The presentation also highlights the government's actions and institutional obligations in ensuring occupational health and safety in healthcare facilities.

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH
Presented by:Presented by:
School:School:

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IntroductionIntroduction
Hofmann, Burke, and Zohar (2017) observe that nursing
and more specifically emergency nursing in is one of
the most hazardous professions in the healthcare
industry. In this presentation, the researcher looks at the
various types of hazards emergency room nurses are
exposed to in Saudi Arabia. The presenter will also look
at the efforts being made by the Saudi Arabian
government to avert this issue before suggesting further
measures that can be put in place individual nurses,
facility administrators and the government to manage
occupational health risks at workplace.

Types of Hazards Emergency Room
Nurses Face
Nurses are highly exposed to variousNurses are highly exposed to various
chemical agents. Various clinical settings andchemical agents. Various clinical settings and
circumstances may require preparation andcircumstances may require preparation and
administration of antineoplastic agents, theseadministration of antineoplastic agents, these
cytotoxic drugs have been documented ascytotoxic drugs have been documented as
being toxic to caregivers who administer thembeing toxic to caregivers who administer them
to patients (Quinn et al. 2015).to patients (Quinn et al. 2015).
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1. Toxic Exposures
a) Antineoplastic Agents

a) Antineoplastic Agents (Cont)a) Antineoplastic Agents (Cont)
These agents have been linked to allergicThese agents have been linked to allergic
reactions, carcinogenic, teratogenic andreactions, carcinogenic, teratogenic and
mutagenic effects not forgetting, mild cases ofmutagenic effects not forgetting, mild cases of
eyes and skin irritations. Several professionalseyes and skin irritations. Several professionals
including ((El-Sallamy et al. 2018)including ((El-Sallamy et al. 2018)
recommends safe contact in the handling ofrecommends safe contact in the handling of
these agentsthese agents
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b) Aesthetic Gases
Long term exposure to taste aesthetic gases
commonly found in recovery rooms, operating
rooms and in some cases emergency care units may
cause halothane and methoxyflurane disorders.
There is also a correlation between these gases and
congenital abnormalities and spontaneous
abortions. Currently there are no published
standards by the Saudi Arabian health Authorities
on how to handle these gases, however, researchers
recommend limited exposure to halogens and
nitrous oxide.
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C) GlutaraldehydeC) Glutaraldehyde
Gluteraldehyde germicide has been linked toGluteraldehyde germicide has been linked to
asthmatic symptoms, flu-like symptoms, andasthmatic symptoms, flu-like symptoms, and
headache and skin sensitivity. Nurses performingheadache and skin sensitivity. Nurses performing
cold disinfection in intensive care units,cold disinfection in intensive care units,
endoscopy and dialysis are more susceptible toendoscopy and dialysis are more susceptible to
the harmful effects of these compound. .the harmful effects of these compound. .
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C) Glutaraldehyde (Cont)C) Glutaraldehyde (Cont)
Increased levels of exposure may cause liverIncreased levels of exposure may cause liver
complications the existing guidelines limit thecomplications the existing guidelines limit the
maximum allowable exposure to glutaraldehydemaximum allowable exposure to glutaraldehyde
to 0.2 ppm. Safe work practices and engineeringto 0.2 ppm. Safe work practices and engineering
controls have been fronted as exposurecontrols have been fronted as exposure
minimization mechanisms.minimization mechanisms.
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2. Back injuries
Among all the causative agents of occupational
injuries, back injuries come second. In Saudi
Arabia, reports show that over 30,000 nurses and
other caregivers report back related injuries per
year (Cantini et al. 2015). Activities such as
moving patients from one location to another,
lifting heavy equipment, and aiding the patients to
bed are some of the most common causes of back-
related inflammations. Nurses are encourage to
practice safely and take enough rest when it is due.
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3. Stress
Long hours of work, understaffing contribute to the
stress levels among emergency care nurses. Nurses
working in emergency rooms are more likely to suffer
stress. Symptoms of stress include but not limited to
sleep disturbances, emotions unrest, irritability,
migraine headaches, loss of appetite, and ulcers
(Chand et al. 2016). Individuals suffering from stress
are likely to find themselves in excessive consumption
of alcohol, cigarettes and substance abuse. Strategies
for adapting to pressure incorporate consistently
planned workforce meetings, flexible routines,
reasonable workload and, recreational activities.
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4. Violence
Emergency care centers and casualty departments
are home to almost all types of patients including
mental patients. Incidences of patients yielding
weapons on caregivers are not uncommon in
emergency rooms and psychiatric facilities. Most
injuries are sustained while administering drugs
such as injection to patients or dressing wounds.
Preventive measures incorporate satisfactory
security in high hazard areas and utilization of
lawful activity against the assaultive party and the
foundation
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5. Radiation
Radiation is responsible for stillbirth, miscarriages
and other adversative reproductive consequences.
Perhaps the most significant effect of radiation is
its linkage to various types of malignancies
including blood cancer, skin and bone cancer.
Nurses come into contact with radiations while
supporting patients in radiography rooms, and also
when giving care to patients in nuclear medicine
test labs and implants (Hassankhani et al. 2018).
Limited exposure to radiation is recommended.
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6. Infectious Disease Exposure
Medical caretakers in numerous settings might
be exposed to numerous transmissible illnesses,
for example, Hepatitis B, hepatitis A, delta
hepatitis, TB,HIV, measles, rubella, mumps, and
flu. This presentation looks at some of the
commonest infectious diseases.
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Introduction

a) Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B (HBV) is arguably the most
ubiquitous work-related contagious disease
in Saudi Arabia. Although the disease virus
is hosted in blood, the virus may also find its
way in body fluids such as semen and saliva
as well as fecal waste. Transmission may
happen from a percutaneous stick from a
debased needle or other sharp instruments.
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a) Hepatitis B (Cont)
Infection mechanisms include a contaminated
stick breaking through the skin of a caregiver,
ingestion or a contaminated body fluid
splattering onto mucous membranes of a medical
caregiver. Global standards outline Hepatitis B
inoculation, customary procedures for
disinfection and sterilization, and use of
protective attire as preventative measures.
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b) Tuberculosis
Healthcare attendants working in public and private
medical facilities particularly in HIV units,
pulmonary departments and emergency stations are
more susceptible to TB infection. In most
circumstances, emergency room attendants come
into contact with undiagnosed patients making it
difficult for the nurses to take extra caution when
interacting and handling TB infected patients. The
Arabian health authorities anticipate issuing TB
standard prevention procedures in the near future
(Alsaleem et al. 2018).
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c) HIV/AIDS
Human immunodeficiency infection might be
procured by the introduction to contaminated blood
or body liquids. The danger of contracting HIV after
percutaneous introduction with a defiled needle is
0.3– 0.4 percent (Lee et al. 2016). The Health
Department suggests that blood and body liquids of
all patients are considered conceivably irresistible
and, subsequently, all-inclusive precautionary
measures ought to be clung to with every patient
contact.
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d) Other Infectious Diseases
Other infectious ailments include;
•hepatitis A
•delta hepatitis
•measles
•rubella
•mumps
•flu
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7. Occupational health safety in
Saudi Arabia profile
The Saudi Arabian Kingdom came up with the
OSH regulatory framework of 2009, legislation
whose most content is detailed in the labor code.
Furthermore, there are other enactments that
contain some word related security and wellbeing
arrangements. In addition, the Ministry of labor,
in 2009 issued a decree establishing a ledger
directory for defining industrial debilities in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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a) What the government is doing

a) What the government is doinga) What the government is doing
(Cont)(Cont)
Recently, the government, through the ministry
of labor and social development also launched a
countrywide health and safety inspection
campaign targeting companies and health
facilities to enforce acquiescence to occupational
health and safety standards.
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b) Institutional obligations
Healthcare facilities must conform to all the laid
down safety requirements not only to ensure the
safety of their manpower but also to ensure that
patient care is not compromised.
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b) Institutional obligations (Cont)
• Samargandy et al. (2016) suggest that
organizations should encourage medical
attendants to report injuries, offer security to their
staff and following up on safety reports so
dangers can be tended to and avoidance steps are
taken.
• Ahmad et al. (2016) also advises organizes to
develop and implements internal safety policies
and regulations.
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Emergency Room Nurse
Responsibility
All individuals working both in the public or
private sector are required to exercise safety
practices at all times to prevent unnecessary
injuries. These practices include ergonomic
activities, wearing protective clothing and
adhereing to all safety procedures however
insignificant they may seem.
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Conclusion
Emergency nurses are liable to exposure to
occupational risks through their contact with patients,
medical equipment’s, drugs, and various chemicals.
These health hazards include but not limited to
exposure to harmful substances such as chemicals,
harmful radiations, violence, stress, back injuries and
more significant exposure to infectious diseases.
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Conclusion (Cont)
Safety and occupational health authorities in the
Saudi Arabia Kingdom continue to grapple with
the issue of life-threatening infectious ailments
such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B just to mention
but a few. This calls for an all-out responsibility
on the part of every healthcare stakeholder to
make the nursing environment safe and conducive
for everyone including emergency care nurses.
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ReferencesReferences
Ahmad, I., Rehan, M., Balkhyour, M., Abbas, M., Basahi, J., Almeelbi, T. and
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ReferencesReferences
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ReferencesReferences
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