{"id":7848,"date":"2016-04-26T16:57:30","date_gmt":"2016-04-26T14:57:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.efnweb.be\/?p=7848"},"modified":"2016-04-26T16:57:30","modified_gmt":"2016-04-26T14:57:30","slug":"health-and-safety-at-the-workplace-preventing-healthcare-workers-exposure-to-dangerous-chemical-risk-factors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=7848","title":{"rendered":"Health and Safety at the Workplace \u2013 Preventing healthcare workers\u2019 exposure to dangerous chemical risk factors!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prevention of healthcare professionals exposure to dangerous chemicals, such as cytotoxic was discussed today in a high-level workshop hosted by the MEPs Si\u00f4n Simon and Anna Z\u00e1borsk\u00e1 at the European Parliament. This is a crucial topic for healthcare professionals dealing with the area of oncology and it affects nurses in particular as they are the most exposed being the frontline profession, next to the patients 24\/7.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The challenges Europe is facing today, namely as regards the health sector economic recession, have brought upfront a significant impact of healthcare workers\u2019 safety and health. Unfortunately, up till now far too little has been done at EU level to tackle this situation. But it is now time to take action!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this debate, the EFN believes that vulnerable groups, like nurses, being usually in high exposure of risks such as dangerous or toxic materials, <a href=\"https:\/\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/EFN-Report-on-Sharps-Injuries-DIR32-Implementation-forwebsite11.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">needle-stick injuries<\/a>, or contamination, should be addressed specifically. More than ever it is essential to make sure that the healthcare professionals are fully protected from totally unacceptable and life-threatening risks as chemical risk factors, in particular during activities as the preparation of cytotoxic drugs used to treat patients with cancer. Mobility is also part of the equation. Being the most mobile in the EU, nurses deserve here again special attention, as national safe working procedures might differ from one country to another.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is therefore time for the EU and national policy makers to take concrete actions to make sure that occupational safety and health policies are implemented at local, regional and national levels, and to invest in the EU workforce as the main driver for change and innovation to effectively cope with the challenges the economic downturn has brought upfront. MEP Si\u00f4n Simon concluded the event by stressing that \u201cit is outrageous that a problem that has been identified since the \u201880s and for which a solution is known for 30 years now is still not being tackled in an appropriate way\u201d. EU discussions are focusing on determining and ensuring the EU workforce has the right skills and competencies to match labour needs effectively, BUT only a healthy workforce that feels safe at the workplace would be able to make this happen!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As we all very well know, many EU Member States are suffering nursing shortages, and one of the reasons why nurses leave the profession early is the occupational safety risks that they face every day. In this case the risks are very harmful including increased chances of being diagnosed with cancer and even spontaneous abortion and stillborn children. Nurses, more than any other profession, know very well the risks incurred on their daily working lives. And this is not only a reality in healthcare settings but also in primary and <a href=\"https:\/\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/EFN-Policy-Statement-on-Moving-Care-to-the-Community-Final042015.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">community care<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prevention of healthcare professionals exposure to dangerous chemicals, such as&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2545,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=2545","url_meta":{"origin":7848,"position":0},"title":"EFN UNDERLINES THE IMPORTANCE OF IMPLEMENTING DIRECTIVE 2010\/32\/EC ON INTERNATIONAL HEPATITIS DAY","author":"efn efn","date":"July 27, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0A legislative proposal to protect Europe\u2019s healthcare professionals and workers from potentially dangerous infections due to injuries with needles and other sharp medical instrument came into force in June 2010 after years of intense negotiation by the EFN in the European Parliament. Although the deadline for full implementation comes to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14395,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=14395","url_meta":{"origin":7848,"position":1},"title":"Workforce diversity and MSD-related risks","author":"efn efn","date":"October 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"As the Official Campaign Partner of \u2018Healthy Workplaces Lighten the Load campaign 2020-22\u2019, the EFN continues to work very closely to OSHA, the European Information Agency for Occupational Safety and Health, to create a safe workplace to improve trust and safety for all the EU healthcare professionals. According to a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14951,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=14951","url_meta":{"origin":7848,"position":2},"title":"SHCC 2021 Report &#8211; Unrelenting Violence","author":"efn efn","date":"May 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"There are many conflict areas around the world where constant threats are faced by the population daily: Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, Cameroon, are examples where such situations reach the internal news frequently. And the most recent one: Ukraine, so close to Europe. Nurses and many other healthcare professionals have to continue\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Picture1.jpg?fit=634%2C380&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Picture1.jpg?fit=634%2C380&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Picture1.jpg?fit=634%2C380&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20043,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=20043","url_meta":{"origin":7848,"position":3},"title":"European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2026","author":"efn efn","date":"October 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Today marks the start of the European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2026. This year, EFN is raising awareness on mental health as an official campaign partner of the EU-OSHA Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2026-28, focusing on preventing psychosocial risks in the workplace. EFN contributed to the WHO Europe\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EWSH-2026-1.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EWSH-2026-1.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EWSH-2026-1.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EWSH-2026-1.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EWSH-2026-1.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16812,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=16812","url_meta":{"origin":7848,"position":4},"title":"WORLD PATIENT SAFETY DAY","author":"efn efn","date":"September 16, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"17 September marks the\u00a0World Patient Safety Day, as established by the 72nd\u00a0World Health Assembly, in May 2019, with the adoption of\u00a0resolution WHA72.6\u00a0on \u2018Global action on patient safety\u2019. This day has been established to raise global awareness about patient safety and call for action to reduce patient harm. This year\u2019s theme,\u00a0Engaging\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/DSC0052-1-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/DSC0052-1-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/DSC0052-1-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/DSC0052-1-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/DSC0052-1-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17253,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=17253","url_meta":{"origin":7848,"position":5},"title":"The EFN calls for the protection of the nurses and all health professionals in Israel-Gaza conflict","author":"efn efn","date":"April 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Over the last weeks, attacks on healthcare institutions, in particular the Al-Shifa Medical complex, and frontline healthcare professionals was again a reality in the occupied Palestinian territory, killing and injuring health professionals, workers and patients, and damaging essential healthcare facilities. Based on testimonies from the healthcare staff inside, the situation\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/EFN-Statement-Gaza.jpg?fit=865%2C493&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/EFN-Statement-Gaza.jpg?fit=865%2C493&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/EFN-Statement-Gaza.jpg?fit=865%2C493&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/efn.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/EFN-Statement-Gaza.jpg?fit=865%2C493&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7848"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7848\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}