By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    email marketing in healthcare
    Harnessing the Power of Email Marketing in Healthcare
    October 26, 2023
    healthcare claims
    The Role of Communication in Resolving Complex Workers’ Compensation Claims in Healthcare Settings
    September 22, 2024
    Wounds and Wisdom: What Motorcycle Accidents Teach Us About Health and Healing
    Wounds and Wisdom: What Motorcycle Accidents Teach Us About Health and Healing
    February 12, 2025
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Are your Health Workers Properly Protected?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Global Healthcare > Are your Health Workers Properly Protected?
Global HealthcarePolicy & Law

Are your Health Workers Properly Protected?

Are your health workers properly protected? Learn how to ensure the safety of your healthcare personnel and the patients they serve, with tips and strategies for protecting them from medical hazards.

Annie Qureshi
Last updated: December 20, 2022 9:12 pm
Annie Qureshi
Share
6 Min Read
Health workers protection
Licensed from DepositPhotos - Author yupiramos
SHARE

One of the key challenges of working in the medical profession is protecting workers from the diseases carried by patients. If a contagion should spread through the workforce, then the capability of an entire facility, or organisation, might be compromised. We’ve seen this recently with the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw large numbers of doctors and nurses sidelined, and necessitated the introduction of a whole range of contagion-limiting measures.

Contents
Personal Protective EquipmentPPE usage trainingStaff hygiene trainingPsychological healthTakeaway:

During Winter, these concerns are more pressing, since viruses are more prevalent. And, naturally, Covid-19 is still around – albeit in a reduced state. For this reason, decision-makers in medicine should think about the safety of both patients and caregivers.

As the world battles with the coronavirus pandemic, frontline health workers are at an even greater risk of infection. Unfortunately, their safety often falls short due to inadequate protective equipment and lack of resources.

In this article, we will discuss why it is essential that health workers are properly protected in order to effectively combat diseases such as Covid-19.

More Read

Concierge Medicine – Is it Ethical or Elitist?
Providers Hesitant to Discuss End-of-Life Care with Some Patients
Can Diet Cause Depression?
Getting Young Invincibles to Buy Health Insurance?
Minnesota Announces New Strategies Dealing with Opioid Abuse

Personal Protective Equipment

Arguably the most powerful means of limiting contagion is through personal protective equipment like facemasks and gloves and it is important to note that the precise form that the PPE takes will depend on the context. The correct use of protective clothing will help to reduce the spread of pathogens and thereby protect individuals and groups.

Face coverings protect in situations where germs might be transmitted through the mouth and nose. Their efficacy will depend on the disease in question. In some cases, they’re highly effective; in others, they’re less so.

Latex gloves and gowns are worn by surgical professionals and dentists, among others. If a doctor is going to be physically touching a patient, then gloves will mean that germs aren’t being transmitted. Given that a single doctor might physically examine scores of patients over the course of a given working week, this can be invaluable.

PPE usage training

If the PPE being provided isn’t properly used, it will be less effective. In some cases, it might be counterproductive, as it’ll give the illusion of being effective, which might lead to misplaced confidence. For example, incorrectly-sized facemasks might allow leaks, increasing the risk of exposure.

When NHS staff received training from a health and safety equipment provider, Arco they were effusive in their praise.

“We all benefited greatly from being able to examine and probe a variety of half-face and full-face masks, on more than one occasion. The team were also on hand to help answer any questions. I would highly recommend this support is available to other NHS staff.”

Staff hygiene training

Good hygiene is one of the most important aspects of proper health care. Without it, health workers are at risk of transmitting diseases to their patients and themselves. To ensure that this doesn’t happen, staff hygiene training should be a priority for any health organization.

Making staff aware of their own personal hygiene is essential, as well as how to use protective equipment properly. This includes understanding how to store, handle and dispose of hazardous materials correctly. Training should also cover areas such as handwashing techniques and decontamination procedures in order to reduce the spread of infection. Educating employees on these practices can significantly improve patient safety standards in any healthcare setting.

When staff are trained in appropriate hygiene measures, and implement them habitually, patients will enjoy a much greater level of protection. Washing hands with warm, soapy water, or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser, might work wonders. Short sleeves, short (natural) nails and minimal jewellery will all help, too.

Psychological health

Less focussed on are the mental health consequences of certain kinds of medical work. Shift work can make it difficult to get to sleep, which can have a whole range of detrimental consequences for staff members and patients. Certain kinds of medical work can also be emotionally draining, especially if it puts workers up close and personal with traumatic or life-threatening situations. Providing staff with the freedom to declare that it’s getting too much, and with access to counselling and therapy, might help to retain them in the long-term, and to keep them productive, too.

Takeaway:

In conclusion, it is clear that health workers need to be protected from the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only should they be provided with adequate protective equipment, but also should have access to mental health support and resources. Safe working environments are essential for ensuring that healthcare staff can continue their work without fear of catching the virus. Governments must act now to ensure that proper protocols are in place and implemented to protect frontline workers from contracting this deadly virus.

TAGGED:health workershealth workers protection
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

morning after pill effectiveness
Policy & LawPublic Health

Morning-After Pill Doesn’t Prevent Pregnancies for Women Over 176 Lbs.

December 1, 2013
Image
Medical Education

6 Tips for Avoiding Illness When You Work in a Medical Office

June 6, 2012

Engaging UCSF Residents in Quality, Safety, and Cost Reduction

May 15, 2012

3 Ways the ACA Affects Physician Payment

January 12, 2014
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?