he result of study tour o­n Occupatinal health and safety

for Health care worker in Singapore

                                                               Dr. Luong Mai Anh

Health Envionment Management Agency

            According to plan of “Worker health protection project 2009-2011”, the Health Envionment Management Agency, Ministry of Health organized a study tour to exchange and share experiences o­n occupational health and safety for health care worker from 15-19/8/2011 in Singapore. There were 08 delegates from Health Environment Management Agency, Can Tho center of Occupational health and Environment protection, Bac Ninh center for Occupational health -Environment protection and examination, Kon Tum, Da Nang, Hai Phong and Thua Thien Hue Centre for Preventive Medicine participating in the training course.

            During the training course, the participants obtained a great amount of valuable information and knowledge o­n Overviewing of Occupational health for health care worker; The risk factors at work (physical, chemical, biological factors, ergonomics, stress, medical waste, etc.) that impact the health care workers who are physicians, nurses, nurse assistants and other employees working at kitchen, laundry, cleaning and maintenance area; How to detect manage and prevent some common issues o­n occupational health was further discussed. For instance, the management of hazards by sharp objects; occupational skin diseases, especially gloves related allergy among medical staffs,  psychological stress of health workers; occupational health services for basic health workers and other muscle related disease.

            The agenda of training course was a combination of lectures and discussions, and field visits of some models of care and health promotion for health workers in some major hospitals, health centers of universities in Singaporeand occupational health systems of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, National University of Hospital - Yong Loo Lin Medical University. The trainees also had an excursion at the Council of Workplace safety and health, Ministry of Labor to examine the state management of occupational health in the health sector. All lectures were prepared and presented by professor of epidemiology and public health - Yong Loo Lin Medical University. The trainees realized that the contents of the lectures were concise, thorough, scientific and feasible.

            After the study, all members obtained many useful lessons: In order to implement the occupational health and safety in health care facilities, it is necessary to have the participation and directions of the leaders at different levels. While the leaders should play a vital role, other people at agency should actively participate with strict disciplinary. Programs of improving health, models of green hospital and friendly environment, setting up of IEC corner o­n health for patients with unhealthy lifestyle related diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Implementation of welfare programs, improvement of health and development of simple IEC corner o­n health and prevention of risk factors depend o­n the real condition of each unit; Distribution of laboratory equipments is appropriate. Solutions of problems are mentioned. Chemicals are classified by label of properties of chemicals aimed to easily find and avoid.

Models of health education with the visual image

            The implementation of health policies: All health care workers should be vaccinated against hepatitis B. If the workers are infected with hepatitis B, C or HIV, they are assigned to work in an appropriate place with an aim to prevent transmission.

            Dissemination and provision of training courses for health care workers working at health facilities should implemented.

            Regular inspection and review of risk factors and evaluation of improvement should be conducted. Measures o­n improving risk control process should be carried out.