Occupational Hazards For Medical Staff And Suggestion Of Supervision

[Background] In recent years, the government pays much attention to the occupational protection of medical staff and has speeded up the legal process to protect medical staff in hospitals. However, there are still some problems in the practice of occupational protection of medical staff.[Objective] To understand the status of medical personnel's occupational exposure and the adopted occupational protection, and to analyze the existing problems, we propose actions to improve the management of occupational protection for medical staff.[Methods] This thesis collects and analyzes common types of occupational exposure, such as sharp injuries and exposure to anticancer drugs through file analysis method. We get advice from eight experts who engage in occupational health surveillance, communicable disease control supervision, supervision of medical practitioners, or the management of occupational protection work in 2 tertiary-hospitals.Based on the literature review and suggestions from 8 experts, the preliminary measures and recommendations on occupational protection for medical staff were proposed. These suggestions were sent to the professionals from Shanghai Institute of Health Supervision, or 18 District Institutes of Health Supervision and 5 tertiary-hospitals to get their comments. Finally, the priority was given and the suggestion of management on occupational protection for medical staff was present.[Results] The occupational exposure of medical staff at workplace has many kinds and harm is serious, and it is easy to happen during the work process and can't be completely avoided. The situation of occupational protection against serious injuries among medical staff is poor. There are many issues such as low awareness of self-protection of medical staff, no enough standardized personal protection, incomplete occupational protection management system, lack of dedicated education, etc.Occupational protection against exposure to antineoplastic among nurses is also inadequate. There are issues such as incomplete management system of chemotherapy protection, lack of protection equipment during chemotherapy processes, poor awareness of self-protection of nurses, and disposition of chemotherapic waste not meeting international standards, etc.Although the government has issued a number of laws and regulations that are related to the occupational protection of medical staff, there are still some problems such as no special occupational protection laws and regulations for them, low operational of the laws and regulations, recommended standards instead of mandatory laws, low efficiency of practicing of the laws and regulations, among others. Most laws or regulations are for the public health responsibilities and have neglected the protection of medical personnel themselves.The experts believe that the factors affecting the management of occupational protection of medical personnel include low self-management level of the hospital, especially the lack of professionals and finance, low performance level of medical personnel in their occupational protection practice, lack of laws and regulations, reluctance of hospitals to take actions, and so on.[Conclusion] Main problems due to the government are:(1) Inadequate management system limits the enforcement of some laws; (2) there are gaps in the current laws and regulations; (3) The supervision system on occupational protection for medical personnel is inadequate; (4) The monitoring of occupational exposure of medical staff is not fully carried out. Main problems due to hospitals are:(1) no or low attention of hospital's management on occupational protection; (2) equipments for protection not meeting the requirements; (3) low level of the occupational protection knowledge of medical personnel low and poor sense of self-protection.[Suggestions] (1) Strengthen regulations and standards of occupational protection for medical staff. The occupational protection for medical staff should be put into the scope of "Occupational Disease Prevention Law", and continue improving the related laws and regulations and their practice; (2) Occupational health service institutions shall provide technical support for the monitoring of occupational exposure of medical personnels; (3) Strengthening the internal management of hospitals; (4) Carry out comprehensive supervision on law enforcement of occupational protection for medical personnels, and actively promote the health supervision system. The health administration departments should integrate resources and improve the effectiveness of supervision.