Occupational Safety and Health in Emergency Room Nursing in Saudi Arabia

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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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