tized to the dangers they are exposed to in the OR.
"Surgical services leaders have a responsibility to take a proactive
approach to protecting their employees," says Mr. Taylor. "Be vigilant
in researching PPE options, and outfit your teams with the best avail-
able products."
4. Double gloving. How do you convince your surgeons and staff
to double-glove? By making double-gloving mandatory. Don't make it
a matter of if your surgical team will double-glove — make it a matter
of when, says Kimberly J. Elgin, MSN, RN, CNOR, CLNC. Barrier pro-
tection is mandatory. Anyone working in the room who handles sharp
instruments must wear a two-color indicator system for double glov-
ing, says Ms. Elgin, the quality and compliance RN at Virginia
Commonwealth University Health System in Richmond, Va. Of the 3
safety techniques that can prevent percutaneous needlesticks and
bloodborne pathogenic exposures, double-gloving might be the easi-
est and least expensive intervention when compared with hands-free
zones and blunt-tip sutures, adds Ms. Elgin.
Health care is hazardous
The rate of occupational injury and illness to healthcare workers has
surpassed that of the general industry population. According to the
number of work-related injuries and illnesses that employers have
reported to OSHA, it has become more hazardous to work in health
care than it is to work in mining or construction.
OSM
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