Now that we have focused on hazards’ inventory and detection presented by chemical agents, we can move on to the second stage, that is risk assessment. The risk of a substance is the likelihood that it will be harmful in real conditions of use. The risk therefore depends on the intrinsic hazard and control of the exposure conditions. Show
The employer must conduct risk assessment for health and safety at workstations including new activities. This assessment must be renewed regularly so as to take into account knowledge advances concerning products used. ObjectivesRisk assessment for chemicals is a prerequisite prior to any risk prevention programme in general. Well conducted, it should lead to the construction of preventive actions plan which will find its rightful place in the Occupational Health Nurse’s ‘OHN’ project approach. For that purpose, it is important to collect and provide comprehensive data on risks related to use, storage, chemical exposures or mixtures as well as toxicological data. Risk assessmentTo ensure risk assessment, the employer takes into account in particular hazardous properties of chemicals, hazardous situations and all exposures likely to exist via exposure scenarios. Various chemical risk assessment methods are available. There is no universal method, and the employer, who is responsible and the most competent for this assessment, is free to choose the one that seems to be the most suitable to the company’s specific needs. Methodology
Sharing experience within the multidisciplinary team, occupational health physician and others: The OHN is considered an integral partner of prevention stakeholders. She/he accompanies the employees regarding management of their health and safety. She/he shares information that may help without losing sight of her general obligation to discretion. ConclusionThe risk assessment process should be adapted to each company. It is necessary to ensure employees’ collaboration. Indeed the ultimate goal is to implement a prevention plan, collective and/or, individual. But without direct employees’ implication, these objectives cannot be achieved. Therefore, risk assessment is teamwork. NB: You have personally contributed towards risk assessment in your company in France, in Europe or elsewhere in the world. You wish to talk about this issue, discuss it, share with us your experience, do not hesitate anymore. Contact us. Take advantage of this space, it is yours! Janine Bigaignon
ANS: BAda Mayo Stewart was hired in 1885 by the Vermont Marble Company.
Which population would have been the focus of care for an occupational health nurse in the early 1900s?a. Injured workersb. All workersc. Familiesd. The community
ANS: CIn the early days of occupational health nursing, the nurse’s work was holistic and centered on the family.
A nurse working in an occupational health setting will most likely work as a nurse:a. Administratorsb. Clinicians/practitionersc. Consultantsd. Educators
ANS: BThe majority of occupational health nurses work as nurse clinicians/practitioners.
A nurse is pursuing certification as an occupational health nurse. Which organization will provide this certification?a. American Board for Occupational Health Nursesb. Center for Occupational and Environmental Healthc. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Healthd. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
ANS: ACertification in occupational health nursing is provided by the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses.
Secondary prevention in the occupational health arena may include:a. Providing education on safety in the workplace to prevent injuryb. Working with chronically diabetic workers to ensure appropriate medicationsc. Screening for hearing loss resulting from noise levels in the plantsd. Ensuring that a person with cardiovascular disease attends a rehab program
ANS: CSecondary prevention occurs after a disease process has already begun. The other answers are examples of primary and tertiary levels of prevention.
The nurse doing a walk-through to identify workplace hazards is providing which level of prevention?a. Primary preventionb. Secondary preventionc. Tertiary preventiond. Assessment
ANS: APrimary prevention refers to those interventions aimed at preventing the occurrence of disease, injury, or disability.
Limited duty programs after a cumulative trauma injury is an example of which level of prevention?a. Primary preventionb. Secondary preventionc. Tertiary preventiond. Assessment
ANS: CTertiary prevention includes those interventions aimed at disability limitation and rehabilitation from disease, injury, or disability.
Which activity would be the primary role of an occupational health nurse?a. Caring for employees and their familiesb. Providing health promotion and emergency carec. Updating the Material Safety Data Sheetsd. Reporting communicable diseases
ANS: BThe customary role of the occupational health nurse extends beyond emergency treatment and prevention of illness and injury and also includes the promotion and maintenance of health, overall risk management, care for the environment, and efforts to reduce health-related costs in business.
Which is the best method an occupational health nurse can use when assessing workplace hazards?a. Review incident reports.b. Walk through the worksite.c. Interview key employees.d. Read the Standard Industrial Classification Code.
ANS: BOne of the best methods an occupational health nurse can use in assessing workplace hazards is to walk through the worksite.
Which was the first legislation that specifically required certain prevention programs for workers?a. Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)b. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)c. Mine Safety and Health Actd. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code
ANS: CThe Mine Safety and Health Act was enacted in 1968. It was the first legislation that specifically required certain prevention programs for workers.
Which types of industries are noted for high degrees of hazards associated with the work?a. Data entry, animal rescue, and hospiceb. Engineering, science, and laboratoriesc. Manufacturing, mining, and agricultured. Aeronautics, plastics, and nursing
ANS: CEven though these are known for high degrees of hazard, no worksite is free of occupational health and safety hazards.
The most disabling occupational condition reported in 2005 was:a. Cuts and puncturesb. Fracturesc. Bruisesd. Sprains and strains
ANS: DIn 2005, sprains and strains were by far the most frequent disabling conditions, accounting for 40.7% of the cases of days away from work.
Which work-related hazard may be encountered by all workers?a. Workplace stress leading to hypertension and cardiovascular diseaseb. Asbestos, plastics, lead, and solvents leading to dermatitisc. Cement dust and metals leading to bronchitisd. Hormones and nitroglycerine leading to reproductive effects
ANS: AAll the other answers are specific to certain occupations and jobs.
Which would be considered agents in the epidemiologic triad?a. Flexible management styles of the authoritiesb. Temperature extremes and crowdingc. Susceptible human beingsd. High-risks groups of individuals
ANS: BTemperature extremes and crowding are agents.
In the epidemiologic triad, an example of a host factor would be:a. Crowdingb. Shift workc. Worker’s familyd. Chemical exposure
ANS: CCrowding and shift work are environmental factors, and chemical exposure is the agent factor.
Which population is at greatest risk for experiencing work-related accidents with subsequent injuries?a. Workers of childbearing ageb. Workers with less than 1 year of experiencec. Workers with diminished sensory abilitiesd. Workers with chronic illnesses
ANS: BNew workers with less than 1 year of experience on the current job are at greatest risk for experiencing work-related accidents with subsequent injuries.
A worker who has a health reaction to “safe” low-level exposures is experiencing:a. An allergic reactionb. A compromised immune systemc. Hypersusceptibilityd. Malnutrition
ANS: CA worker who has a health reaction to “safe” low-level exposures is experiencing hypersusceptibility.
Which statement about chemical agents is accurate?a. Chemicals are not ordinarily found in the body tissues of the general population.b. Most chemicals have been studied to determine the effects of exposure on humans.c. Chronic exposure to low-level doses of workplace chemicals below standards constitutes a potential health risk.d. Human effects of chemical exposure are associated with single agents rather than with the interaction of agents.
ANS: CIt is true that chronic exposure to low-level doses of workplace chemicals below standards constitutes a potential health risk.
An occupational health nurse has conducted a walk through assessment and has identified potential hazards in the workplace. The nurse recognizes that it will be easiest to modify exposure to which hazard?a. Bacteriab. Aerosolsc. Noised. Burnout
ANS: CControlling physical agents, such as noise, can usually be accomplished through engineering strategies and personal protective equipment. It is much harder to change biological agents (bacteria), chemical agents (aerosols), and psychosocial agents (burnout).
An employee has come into contact with a biological agent. The occupational health nurse recognizes that a biological agent:a. May cause accidents in the work environmentb. Is commonly found in the agriculture industryc. May potentiate stress in the workplaced. Indicates exposure to bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites
ANS: DBiological agents are living organisms whose excretions or parts are capable of causing human disease, usually by an infectious process. Biological hazards are common in workplaces such as health care facilities and clinical laboratories where employees are potentially exposed to a variety of infectious agents, including viruses, fungi, and bacteria.
Slippery floors are an example of which type of hazard?a. Enviromechanicalb. Physicalc. Chemicald. Psychosocial
ANS: ASlippery floors cause or potentiate accidents, injuries, strain, or discomfort.
An occupational health nurse refers an employee to an employee assistance program. Which problem will most likely be addressed?a. Obesityb. Smokingc. Alcohol abused. Lack of exercise
ANS: CEmployee assistance programs are designed to address personal problems such as marital/family issues, substances abuse, or financial difficulties.
Why would a nurse conduct an occupational health assessment?a. It is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).b. It is required by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).c. It helps to identify agent and host factors that place employees at risk.d. It helps to educate workers about potential hazards.
ANS: CThe reason to obtain an occupational health assessment is to identify agent and host factors that place employees at risk.
What is the purpose of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration?a. To educate occupational health and safety professionalsb. To identify and research occupational health and safety hazardsc. To distribute research findings relevant to occupational health and safetyd. To educate employers about occupational health and safety (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
ANS: DOSHA educates employers about occupational health and safety.
What is the purpose of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health?a. To examine potential hazards of new work technologies and practicesb. To educate employees about environmental risks and hazardsc. To develop and maintain a database of work-related deathsd. To set standards that regulate workers’ exposure to potentially toxic substances
ANS: AThe National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health examines potential hazards of new work technologies and practices.
Which item found in the workplace would require a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)?a. Hand soapb. Eye gogglesc. Apronsd. Earplugs
ANS: AEye goggles, aprons, and earplugs are not toxic agents and therefore do not need an MSDS.
Which is a requirement of the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA)?a. Applying stricter rules to determine Superfund sitesb. Sharing written disaster plans with key resources in the communityc. Authorizing each industry to write their own disaster pland. Evaluating the effectiveness of a written disaster plan
ANS: BSARA requires that written disaster plans be shared with key resources in the community.
Which action would an occupational health nurse take while involved in disaster planning?a. Assess for possible disasters.b. Prevent injuries and death of workers.c. Store Medical Data Sheets in a safe place.d. Collaborate with government authorities to plan disaster management.
ANS: BThe occupational health nurse is a key player in occupational disasters.
An occupational health nurse working in an occupational health and safety program is likely to provide which services? Select all that apply.a. Health/medical surveillanceb. Health screeningc. Case managementd. Job task analysis
ANS: A, B, C, DAn occupational health and safety program may include health/medical surveillance, health screening, case management, and job task analysis.
An occupational health nurse has become a member of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN). Why would a nurse join this organization? Select all that apply.a. To promote the health and safety of workersb. To lobby in Congress for safer work placesc. To advance the profession by supporting researchd. To promote and provide continuing education in the specialty
ANS: A, C, DAAOHN does not lobby in congress for safer work places. |