19. PERSONAL PROTECTION OF MEDICAL STAFF

Medical staff requires some kind of personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect against a variety of possible hazards.

- Skin penetration by sharps.

- Chemicals.

- Antineoplastic drugs used to treat cancer patients and other potentially harmful drugs.

- Blood and other potentially infectious materials.

- Tuberculosis or other airborne bacteria.

- Mechanical hazards, such as moving equipment parts or flying particles.

- Heat from steam or hot equipment.

- Radiation from X-ray equipment.

- Light radiation, such as laser beams or UV rays.

PPE is your personal defense against the hazards you face while working. Depending on the task you?re performing, you can be exposed to hazards that could injure your:

- eyes or face;

- skin;

- respiratory system;

- feet;

- hearing;

- head.

Eye and Face Protection

Several types of PPE are available to protect your eyes and face. Shatterproof safety glasses. Side shields provide additional protection and may be worn to protect against chemical and blood splashes.

Goggles generally provide more protection than safety glasses and can protect eyes not only from flying particles, but also from blood, liquid chemicals, and hazardous gases, vapors, mists, and dust.

Filtered lenses are required to keep out harmful light radiation. The stronger the light, the darker the lenses must be.

Face shields protect your face against flying particles and splashing liquids but won't protect your eyes for sure. So remember that you must always wear safety glasses or goggles under a face shield.

If you wear spectacles, you'll need either eye protection with corrective lenses or goggles that can be worn over your glasses.

Skin Protection

PPE can also help protect your skin from chemicals and infectious materials as well as cuts, abrasions, burns, and punctures.