Question

list some of the problems why a hcw does not follow standard precautions.The other 2 are engineering controls and work practice controls. In your own words, define what each means and then detail the difference between the two.

Answer 1

Standard precautions are hand hygiene, using barriers like gloves , mask, goggles, face shield, gown , handling patient care equipment & linen with protection, prevention of injury from patient instruments , needles, sharps and avoidance of splash or spray of patient body fluids on healthcare workers.

The healthcare workers doesn't follow standard precautions at times of emergency , disaster/ mass casualty incident as patient count may be high. Sometimes there may be inadequate supply of barrier devices like masks, gloves eg: during any epidemic outbreak.

Health care worker may be allergic to latex gloves . Persistent handwashing may lead to irritation and dryness in hands which led them not to follow standard precautions.

Sometimes lack of knowledge about standard precautions.

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Engineering control : It is an element for safety and also a control measure against hazards for workers at worksites. Engineering control tend to identify and formulate an intervention to remove the hazard { like hazardous chemicals, biological hazards( micro organisms) , physical agents } from the work site. Example of engineering control are personal protective equipment, sharp container and it also says not to recap sharps as it may cause prick injury which may lead to risk of entry of blood borne pathogen . Engineering control tend to be good in safety but may fail if there is inadequate training to workers and also regular follow up is needed for successful rate of engineering control measures. Reinforcing the measures are necessary.

Work practice control: It is also an element for safety by improving or modifying the way a task is performed , so that a hazard may be eradicated. Example of work practice control are recapping the sharps with one hand , so that you donot get pricked by needle. Other examples are handwashing , sterilization of patient equipments, not wearing nail polishes ,rings so that lodging of pathogens can be reduced.