According to the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the rate of occupational injuries and illnesses among healthcare workers has actually increased over the past decade. You know all about pandemic preparedness plans, preventing needle-stick injuries, and handling biologically hazardous materials. But do you know how to protect yourself from the following workplace health hazards?

Definition: Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) – Ill health effects experienced by being in a certain building or part of a building, and which disappear quickly after leaving the building. No specific illness or cause can be identified in cases of SBS.

Symptoms: Sick Building Syndrome – Acute discomfort such as headache, dry or itchy skin, a dry cough, and eye, nose, or throat irritation. Other symptoms include dizziness and nausea, sensitivity to odors, fatigue, and difficulty in concentrating.

Definition: Building Related Illness (BRI) – Diagnosable illness caused by airborne contaminants within a building. Sufferers may need a long period to recover after leaving the building.

Symptoms: Building Related Illness – Cough, chest tightness, fever, chills, and muscle aches. In these cases, symptoms can be clinically defined and have clearly identifiable causes.

Causes (SBS & BRI):

The cause(s) of sick building syndrome often remain(s) unknown even after a thorough inspection.

Prevention and Solutions (SBS & BRI):

Definition: Certain drugs, chemicals, and viruses can cause reproductive health problems or harm a developing fetus. Female workers and pregnant women are especially vulnerable.

Symptoms: A disrupted menstrual cycle, infertility, or subfertility. Workplace exposure to some harmful agents during pregnancy may cause miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, low birth weight or premature births, developmental disorders, and childhood cancer.

Causes: Ionizing radiation (e.g. x-rays and gamma rays), certain cancer treatment drugs (e.g. methotrexate), and certain viruses. Strenuous physical labor may cause premature delivery or miscarriage late in pregnancy.

Prevention and Solutions: Employers are required to give appropriate safety training to anyone who may be exposed to these hazardous agents.

Definition: Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the tendon sheaths in the wrist swell and put pressure on the median nerve. This can lead to pain and/or numbness of the wrist and hand. For American adults, the estimated lifetime risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome is 10%.

Symptoms: The first symptom is usually a painful tingling in one or both hands during the night. Other signs include a feeling of uselessness in the fingers, difficulty in gripping or making a fist, and intense pain. Left untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to muscle atrophy and loss of motor dexterity in the hand.

Causes: A variety of factors can cause or contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome. Repetitive and forceful movements of the wrists (e.g. typing, routine work performed by surgeons and dentists) are a risk factor. Other causes include trauma to the arm, wrist, or hand, non-traumatic illnesses or injuries, and a predisposition to developing the condition.

Prevention and Solutions: Carpal tunnel syndrome can be prevented or alleviated by avoiding awkward wrist positions and repetitive hand movements. NIOSH recommendations include more frequent rest breaks, redesigning tools, modifying the layout of work stations, and practicing good ergonomics while typing and doing other repetitive tasks.

Treatments: These may involve surgery to release pressure on the median nerve, and/or the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and hand splinting to reduce the swelling of the tendons. These medical interventions have a mixed degree of success.

Definition: An acquired allergic reaction to some proteins in latex rubber.

Causes: Healthcare workers are exposed to latex proteins through skin contact while wearing latex gloves and by inhaling latex powder while changing gloves. Long-term exposure to latex proteins increases a person's chances of becoming allergic to them.

Symptoms: Mild allergic reactions can include skin rashes, redness, hives, and itching. More severe reactions include sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat, and asthma. In extremely rare cases, latex allergies can cause shock.

Prevention and Solutions: Wear non-latex gloves whenever possible. If you must wear latex gloves, choose gloves that are powder-free, wash your hands with soap and water after each use, and clean equipment that may be contaminated with latex dust. If you develop any signs of a latex allergy, avoid contact with latex products and see your doctor.

Definition: Physical assaults or threats of assaults directed at workers on duty.

Causes: In the healthcare setting, violent acts are usually committed by patients or family members who feel frustrated, vulnerable, or out of control. Nurses and aides who have the most direct patient contact are at higher risk. In a hospital, psychiatric wards, emergency rooms, waiting rooms, and geriatric units are the places where violence occurs most frequently.

Prevention and Solutions: Hospital workers can defuse potentially violent situations by watching for warning signs, behaving in a way that diffuses anger, and staying alert. If you can't defuse a situation quickly, leave and call security. All violent incidents should be reported to the management.

There is no single, universal solution for preventing hospital violence. Some effective prevention strategies include screening visitors for weapons, violence reporting programs, and restricting the movement of visitors inside the hospital. NIOSH recommends that all hospitals should develop a comprehensive violence prevention program.