Risks associated with occupational glass injury in bar staff with special consideration of hepatitis B infection.
Since bar workers often sustain cuts from unwashed bar glasses, the aims of this study were to investigate risk of injury and to examine the sero-prevalence of markers for hepatitis B amongst bar staff. Ninety-one bar staff recruited by newspaper advertisement were asked about injury experience and life-style risks associated with transmission of hepatitis B and were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and core antibody (anti-HBc). Seventy-four per cent reported lacerations from broken glassware at work: 18% had sustained such injuries in more than 10 incidents. Fifty-five per cent of respondents reported occupational skin contact with body fluids. Anti-HBc prevalence for the study group was 1.1%, suggesting that bar staff were not at increased risk from hepatitis B infection. Although 30% wore gloves for high-risk tasks, there was no evidence that glove wearing prevented glass lacerations. This level of injury experience and exposure to body fluids is unacceptable and represents a potential risk of cross-infection. Hepatitis B immunization should be considered in this group. Urgent action, including the replacement, wherever possible, of annealed with tempered bar-glassware, is necessary to protect bar workers from glass injury.
McLean
W
W
Department of Oral Surgery, Medicine and Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK.
Shepherd
J P
JP
Brann
C R
CR
Westmoreland
D
D
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005898:Glass; D017575:Gloves, Protective; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens