RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Organizations must manage occupational health risks in the workplace and the UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has published guidance on successful health and safety management. AIMS: This paper describes a method of using the published guidance to audit the management of occupational health and safety, first at an organizational level and, secondly, to audit an occupational health service provider's role in the management of health risks. The paper outlines the legal framework in the UK for health risk management and describes the development and use of a tool for qualitative auditing of the efficiency, effectiveness and reliability of occupational health service provision within an organization. The audit tool is presented as a question set and the paper concludes with discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of using this tool, and recommendations on its use.
Assuntos
Auditoria Médica/métodos , Saúde Ocupacional , Comunicação , Coleta de Dados/métodos , Governo , Humanos , Saúde Ocupacional/legislação & jurisprudência , Serviços de Saúde do Trabalhador/organização & administração , Serviços de Saúde do Trabalhador/normas , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto , Competência Profissional/normas , Segurança , Reino UnidoRESUMO
It is estimated that 1.2 million workers are now exposed to hazardous levels of vibration in their work. In the year 1995-1996, over 3,000 new cases of hand-arm vibration syndrome were assessed by the Department of Social Security (DSS) under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Scheme. Formerly called vibration white finger, it is the most common of all diseases assessed by the DSS, with the majority of workers affected having up to 14 per cent disability. This article explains the syndrome and its management.
Assuntos
Transtornos Traumáticos Cumulativos/etiologia , Transtornos Traumáticos Cumulativos/enfermagem , Doenças Profissionais/etiologia , Doenças Profissionais/enfermagem , Vibração/efeitos adversos , Transtornos Traumáticos Cumulativos/diagnóstico , Transtornos Traumáticos Cumulativos/epidemiologia , Humanos , Doenças Profissionais/diagnóstico , Doenças Profissionais/epidemiologia , Enfermagem do Trabalho , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
Asthma caused by factors encountered at work can be overlooked. The author describes some of the risk factors and occupational groups involved and how nurses can help to detect cases of asthma caused by materials found at work.
