Sofety for Operoting Room Personnel

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Chopler 3 Sofety for Operoting Room Personnel

sEument trays, or equipment, strains and other injuries can be prevented. Lifting should be done by bending the knees, positioning one's body under the load, and then straightening the legs, allowing the lower exh,emity muscles to do the lifting. A roller (e.g., Davis) caa be of significant value in preventing strains when moving unconscious or obese patients.
;ANGUE FACTORS
Fatigue can be minimized through working quickly and efficiently. Wasted motions not only increase the patient's anesthesia and operating room time but are also tiring for the staff member. Integration of individual motions and thoughtful organization of the day's total workload can greatly influence one's job performance and endurance. RADIATION SAFEW

The operating room staffneeds to be awqre ofthe hazards related to working in surgery. By stfict adherence tir departmental policy regarding safety measures, potential problems can be avoided. Many factors that apply to patient safety in the operating room also apply to personnel safety (see Chapter 2).
IN.SERVICE EDUCATION

Operating room personnel may be exposed to radiation when intraoperative x:r&1ls are taken and-when radioactive implant procedures are performed. To reduce the deleterious effects of radiation exposure, hospital policy must be strictly followed. The effect of radiation exposure depends on the amount of radiation, the proximity of the radiation source, and the length oftime ofthe exposure. Hospital

Most hospitals have in-service orientation programs

for new employees to inform them of the hospital's policies and procedures including the subjects of fire pre-

and disasters. In addition to this general orientation, most operating rooms have a departmental orientation program for new personnel and a scheduled monthly in-service education program for all personnel. These programs serve not only to keep the operating room staff abreast of new technology, procedures, instrumentation, and nursing care in general but also serve to reiterate departmental safety measures.
BODY MECHANICS

vention and individual responsibilities in case of fire

protective measures should include the following: 1. All nonsterile team members should leave the

2. Sterile team members should either stand behind

,a lead screen or wall or wear a lead apron.

room (whenever possible) or wear a lead apron.

3. Monitoring devices (e.g., dosimeters) should be

worn by personnel routinely exposed to radiation; readings should be computed weekly. 4. Pregnant personnel should avoid all exposure to

Through the application of good body mechanics, particularly when lifting or moving patients, heavy in20 RL**

radiation.

5. Personnel holding x-ray cassettes during radiography should wear lead gloves in addition to
apron.
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lead