Exposure to hazardous chemicals

Exposure to hazardous chemicals

The most common hazardous chemicals in the health sector include cleaning and disinfecting agents, sterilants, mercury, toxic drugs, pesticides, latex and laboratory chemicals and reagents.

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Exposure to hazardous chemicals

Disinfectants, cleaning products, sterilants, anaesthetic gases, mercury, hazardous drugs and pesticides used in health-care settings may be harmful to health workers.

Cleaning agents and disinfectants have been associated with a 67% increased risk of new-onset asthma in nurses (1).

Bleach and glutaraldehydes have been associated with double the risk of asthma in nurses (1).

Preventive measures

Eliminate unnecessary chemicals or substitute with equally effective and less toxic chemicals (2,3)

Ensure adequate ventilation and use of closed systems when handling chemicals (2-4)

Provide medical surveillance and regular training for workers handling chemicals (2-4)

Apply safe work procedures for handling, storage, transportation and disposal of all chemicals according to the recommendations of the manufacturer (4)

Provide facilities for personal hygiene including washing and changing clothes

Ensure safe disposal of empty or nearly empty pesticides containers

Organize first aid and emergency care procedures in case of accidental exposures

Provide and ensure usage of appropriate well fitted personal protective equipment (2-4)


Use mercury free medical equipment, limit the use of dental amalgam and safely dispose or return medical devices containing mercury to the manufacturer

References

(1)  Are Healthcare Workers at an Increased Risk for Obstructive Respiratory Diseases Due to Cleaning and Disinfection Agents? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Romero Starke K, Friedrich S, Schubert M, Kämpf D, Girbig M, Pretzsch A et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18:5159.  

(2)  HealthWISE Action Manual. Work improvement in health services.

International Labor Organization and World Health Organization. 2014.

(3) HealthWISE Work Improvement in Health Services: Trainers’ Guide.

International Labor Organization and World Health Organization. 2014.

(4) Safe Handling of Hazardous Chemotherapy Drugs in Limited-Resource Settings.

Pan American Health Organization. 2013.