The workplace environment plays a crucial role in the productivity and performance of an employee. Most industries have an unsafe environment and the healthcare field is no exception here. Healthcare professionals often suffer from health problems due to unhealthy environmental factors. 

Despite their first-hand knowledge and experience, healthcare professionals often find it difficult to take care of their health. Regardless of the hygiene equipments available, poor management and improper practices can lead to major problems. Wondering are the health risk factors involved? Well, here is everything you need to know. 

Common Risk Factors for Healthcare Workers in an Unhealthy Environment 

Due to a poorly maintained healthcare environment, employees often suffer from various problems. Some of the major and common risks involved for healthcare workers are:

1. Infectious Diseases 

Healthcare environments are no doubt full of infectious organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. As a result, healthcare workers are highly prone to developing infectious diseases due to poor management. For instance, daily risk for needlesticks, skin exposure and mucous membranes can lead to blood-borne pathogens. This includes health issues like hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), etc. 

2. Major Diseases 

In healthcare settings, both cancer and non-cancer patients are treated with antineoplastic agents. These are mainly cancer chemotherapy and cytotoxic medications. Healthcare workers who are exposed to these medications likely have a high chance of experiencing cancer. Additionally, workers may also face long-term diseases such as organ damage as well as infertility problems. 

3. Work Stress 

Another risk factor that healthcare workers often go through is psychological and emotional health. From hazardous working environments, long working hours and daily exposure to human suffering and death to hygienic challenges, healthcare workers suffer from high-stress levels. They may also experience trauma exposure, leading to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

4. Environmental Risks

An unhealthy environment can pose major health risks to healthcare workers. The major causes of an unhealthy environment are poor ventilation, poor indoor air quality, inadequate lighting, waterborne pathogens and more. Moreover, chemical exposure and poor waste management can also lead to many issues. Overall, all these end up compromising the health of healthcare workers. 

Ways to Keep Healthcare Settings Hygienic 

Despite having hygiene equipments in healthcare settings, wondering why healthcare workers fall sick? Well, it is because of poor management. Therefore, to make sure every worker stays safe while taking care of the patients, here are some ways how healthcare settings can be kept safe:

• The best way to prevent pathogen spread and infections is by regularly practising hand hygiene. For instance, every healthcare worker must wash or clean their hands using hand gel or hand sanitisers, before, during and after coming in contact with patients, contaminated areas or elements. 

• Practice proper respiratory hygiene such as covering your mouth while sneezing and coughing. 

• Incorporate the use of the right cleaning products in healthcare settings as most accidents and injuries occur due to slippery floors. However, to avoid cross-contaminating other areas, use color-coded cleaning equipment for separate tasks. 

• To avoid cross-infection, keep cleaning products and hygiene products in dedicated areas, rather than moving around. 

• Clean and disinfect surfaces, to make sure no dirt is left. Wipe down residue using a microfiber cloth. 

• Follow proper and separate waste disposal procedures to maintain hygiene. For instance, sharp disposals that are wall-mounted are the safest options. 

• Conduct cleaning audits to check if any corner is left dirty or looks unclean. Besides, when cleaning, make sure to wear PPE or personal protective equipment like gloves, masks, etc for safety. 

• Provide frequent and in-depth training to healthcare workers and make sure to keep them updated. 

Maintain Cleaning Standards for Better Health 

At Medguard, we are the leading supplier of high-quality hygiene supplies. We stock only reliable hygiene products and equipment from the world's best brands. All products are designed to maintain a safe and healthy environment. For years, we have been offering healthcare products to different industries including home care, hospitals, clinics, etc. Moreover, you can also rely on our professional team for guidance. So stop fighting the battle against contagious illness and get your hands on the best and most affordable cleaning supplies. 

Read More Here: How Can Healthcare Workers Prevent The Spread Of Infectious