PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Astrid Grgurich

WHAT IS IT?

Group of protective devices that directly protect a worker against hazards in the work environment.

Should meet selection criteria that consider the hazards and work environment conditions and at the same time conform to the basic requirements of safety and ergonomics.

EXAMPLES

Protective clothing Hand and foot protection Head protection Hearing protection Eye and face protection Respiratory protection Protection against falling from height

(World Health Organisation, 2007).

ISOLATION PRECAUTIONS

WHAT’S GOING WRONG?

Did not tie the gown at both the neck and waist. Did not place mask straps properly. Did not properly seal the mask to the face. Did not conduct a seal check. Did not don equipment in the CDC-recommended sequence. Removed potentially contaminated eye protection from the

room. Used poor technique for gown removal. Did not use proper mask removal technique. Did not use wall mounted hand sanitizer before exiting the

room. Removed other potentially contaminated items from the room. Did not doff equipment in the CDC recommended sequence. Did not remove gloves first.

WHY IS IT GOING WRONG?

Non-availability of PPE. Conviction that the patient was not

infected. Utilising PPE interfered with providing

good patient care.

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

THE PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

To judge whether or not specific quality improvement theories can be applied to the problem of PPE non-compliance in hospitals...

EXAMPLE: LEAN MODEL

REFERENCES Beam, E., Gibbs, S., Boulter, K., Beckerdite, M., & Smith, P. (2011). A method of

evaluating health care workers’ personal protective equipment technique. American journal of infection control, 39(5), 415-420.

Department of Health. (2009). Hospital infection prevention and control guidelines: Influenza-like illness. Retrieved from http://www.health.wa.gov.au/circularsnew/attachments/412.pdf

Ganczak, M., & Szych, Z. (2007). Surgical nurses and compliance with personal protective equipment. Journal of hospital infection, 66(4), 346-351.

Infection Control Today. (2007). Personal protective equipment. Retrieved from http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/articles/2007/05/personal-protective-equipment.aspx

Koradecka, D. (Ed.). (2010). Handbook of occupational safety and health. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (n.d.). National personal protective technology laboratory request your assistance. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/pdfs/PotentialBarriersPPE.pdf

Wisconsin Department of Health Services. (2011). Infection control and prevention. Retreived from http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/InfectionControl/StdPrecautions.htm

World Health Organisation. (2007). How to put on and take off personal protective equipment. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/PPE_EN_A1sl.pdf