A Study of Occupational Health and Safety Measures in theCentral Sterilization and Supply Department of a PrivateTertiary Care Teaching Hospital, Bengaluru

Abstract

Introduction The Central Sterilization and Supply Department CSSD plays an important role in any hospital by continuously supplying clean and sterile equipmentrsquos and items to various departments thus preventing the spread of infection.Objectives To identify existing practices and Occupational Health and Safety OSH measures in the CSSD and to assess the use of Personal Protective Equipmentrsquos PPEs among Health Care Workers in the CSSD.Methodology A crosssectional study was carried out in a private tertiary care teaching hospital. An observation checklist was developed which was partially based on Occupational Hazard Checklist of OSHA for a CSSD. This was field tested and validated for applicability for this study.Results The potential biological hazards are infections via exposure to blood and other body fluids during the transportation of the unsterile equipmentrsquos to receiving area. The workers are also exposed to aerosols spills and splashes during various activities fungal infection due to wet clothes and environment and infections through fomites. The potential physical hazards are injuries due to slips and falls exposure to heat humidity dust hypochlorite solution and enzyme solution. The potential ergonomic hazards are musculoskeletal diseases and repetitive stress injuries at the shoulder elbow and small joints of the hands. PPEs were not used consistently in most areas of CSSD.