title: NIOSH health and safety practices survey of healthcare workers: training and awareness of employer safety procedures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Health and Safety Practices Survey of Healthcare Workers describes current practices used to minimize chemical exposures and barriers to using recommended personal protective equipment for the following: antineoplastic drugs, anesthetic gases, high level disinfectants, surgical smoke, aerosolized medications (pentamidine, ribavirin, and antibiotics), and chemical sterilants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one healthcare professional practice organizations collaborated with NIOSH to develop and implement the web-based survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve thousand twenty-eight respondents included professional, technical, and support occupations which routinely come in contact with the targeted hazardous chemicals. Chemical-specific safe handling training was lowest for aerosolized antibiotics (52%, n = 316), and surgical smoke (57%, n = 4,747). Reported employer procedures for minimizing exposure was lowest for surgical smoke (32%, n = 4,746) and anesthetic gases (56%, n = 3,604).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Training and having procedures in place to minimize exposure to these chemicals is one indication of employer and worker safety awareness. Safe handling practices for use of these chemicals will be reported in subsequent papers.
authors.affiliation: Surveillance Branch, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45226-1998.
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Steege
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Boiano
authors.forename: Marie H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sweeney
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003625:Data Collection; D004202:Disinfectants; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009314:National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S.; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012449:Safety; D012906:Smoke; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004202:Disinfectants; D012906:Smoke
keywords: cognitive testing; employer safe handling procedures; healthcare worker; professional practice organization; self-report; training; web-based survey