Objectives:The present opioid epidemic and abuse of fentanyl in the United States has led to an increased risk of exposure to first responders. Law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services are receiving misinformation on fentanyl health and safety risks and this has led to miscommunication. Understanding the risk perceptions and knowledge of first responders regarding fentanyl can help identify training gaps.Methods:A 15-item 6-point Likert scale online questionnaire was developed and distributed to firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians, regarding perceptions of fentanyl exposure, and additional questions concerning knowledge. The online questionnaire was sent to 15 associations of national and New York State first responders with 3 associations acknowledging and distributing the survey.Results:Of the 247 participants, 187 served New York State; 92 worked in law enforcement; and the other 95 worked in either fire, emergency medical service, or both. New York State first responders generally agreed with expert risk perceptions and knowledge of fentanyl exposure in the pilot study. Items pertaining to using hand sanitizer, selecting glove type, and dermal exposure to fentanyl had lower agreement with expert beliefs.Conclusions:Risk perceptions and knowledge could be used to evaluate fentanyl response training among first responders.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Worker Training Program piloted an Opioids and the Workplace: Prevention and Response training tool and program in 2019. The pilot trainees ( N = 97) were surveyed ( n = 27) and interviewed ( n = 6) six months posttraining, and those who downloaded the training tool from the Worker Training Program website ( n = 87) were surveyed ( n = 19) and interviewed ( n = 1) two to six months postdownload, to evaluate the impact of the training program. Workplace policy and program-level actions were reported less frequently than individual-level actions by trainees, except for planning and conducting training and education. Barriers to taking actions included not being able to make changes on their own without supervisor support and lack of upper management support and approval. We found some evidence that the Opioids in the Workplace training program and materials contributed to helping workers introduce policies and programs related to opioids within their workplace or union.
As mass COVID-19 vaccination programs roll out across the country, we are potentially faced with compromising workers’ health for the sake of the broader public health, as it relates to occupational exposure to contaminated needles and syringes. We have the opportunity to provide recommendations that advance protection of workers through the industrial hygiene hierarchy of controls, especially in light of the twentieth anniversary of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. Specifically, greater focus on institutional controls that can dictate the safety culture and climate of institutions that roll out COVID-19 vaccination programs, while maintaining careful focus on preventing sharps injuries and blood exposure. In addition, we provide suggestions for the role that engineering controls, such as devices with sharps injury prevention features play in protecting workers from exposure to bloodborne pathogens, as well as the importance of ongoing injury incident surveillance.
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that large segments of the workforce–many of which were not previously considered or valued–are needed to keep the economy moving and critical societal functions going. From first responders to bus drivers, this expanded essential workforce needed training to build a solid knowledge of infectious disease protection practices. However, most workplaces had no existing plan or training for infectious disease exposure control. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Training Program (WTP) was able to immediately respond with health and safety curricula, resources, and course delivery based on decades of building capacity for disaster and infectious disease response.
Background: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Worker Training Program developed instructor curriculum, a training tool, and materials to prepare trainees to conduct opioids workplace awareness training. Opioids and the Workplace Prevention and Response (OWPR) Train-the-Trainer (TTT) courses were held during three instructor-led online programs. Methods: The OWPR TTT was evaluated using an online pre- and posttest among registered participants, and an assessment of discussion among trainees during the training program. Results: A total of 31 pretests and 24 posttests were completed for the three TTT courses conducted. Quantitative and qualitative data complemented each other in supporting the conclusion that the training achieved intended objectives. Conclusion/Applications to Practice: The evaluation illustrated that the training was effective in increasing knowledge and confidence in conducting awareness training on opioid use and addiction prevention.
Objectives This study was designed to evaluate the outcomes of a national summer 2020 ‘Opioids and the Workplace’ Prevention and Response (OWPR) Train-the-Trainer (TTT) and Leadership training tool and program at 6-month follow-up. The TTT program goal is to help instructors plan and conduct education and training on opioids and the workplace awareness. The Leadership program goal is to help trainees, who are in a position to take organizational level actions, implement policies, and programs related to opioid and substance use and injury prevention. Methods Trainees were from various backgrounds, such as labor unions, academic consortiums, health and safety professionals, government, and community organizations. About 6 months following each individual course date a follow-up survey was sent to each available participants’ e-mail (n = 53 TTT, n = 28 Leadership) with a response rate of 47.2% for the TTT (n = 25) and 63.2% for Leadership (n = 12). Trainees were asked about individual or workplace level actions taken; any obstacles that prevented them or their coworkers from being involved in or conducting activities; if the OWPR training tool was used in their workplace for a training program; and whether the pandemic impacted their ability to address opioids in the workplace. Results Among TTT trainees, about half of follow-up survey respondents from the 2020 training reported planning and conducting training and education, reaching out to coworkers to see how they are doing, sharing factsheets and information from the opioid training with coworkers, and re-focusing on self-care. Among Leadership trainees, about two-fifths of follow-up survey respondents from the 2020 training reported sharing factsheets and information from the opioid training. Some trainees described the COVID-19 pandemic as limiting their ability to take actions in addressing opioids and the workplace. Conclusions Evidence supports that the ‘Opioids and the Workplace’ Train-the-Trainer program and materials have contributed to helping trainees plan and conduct opioids awareness training at their organizations. Evidence supports that the Opioids in the Workplace Leadership program helped contribute to trainees taking workplace level actions to implement policies and programs.
Background: The International Safety Center disseminates the Exposure Prevention Information Network (EPINet) surveillance system to standardize a system for healthcare facilities to track mucocutaneous blood and body fluid exposures. Methods: Occupational exposure incidents to blood and body fluids were recorded within the participant health systems and hospitals ( N = 41), using the EPINet Blood and Body Fluid Exposure Report Form. Forms include detailed questions about the circumstances surrounding the exposure, including the type of exposure, body part(s) involved, and if the employee reporting the incident was wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Results: There were statistically significant differences between participants who wore PPE at time of exposure versus those who did not. Differences were noted by job category (χ2 =32.91, p-value = <.001); where the exposure occurred (χ2 = 32.31, p-value = <.001); what the exposure was a result of (χ2 = 50.19, p-value = <.001); and day versus night shift (χ2 = 11.47, p-value = .001). Conclusion/Applications to Practice: The study found that occupational exposure to blood and body fluids in 2021 remain high risk given the frequency with which they happen, the exposure site (face) and lack of PPE use. The pandemic seemed to matter little in changing frequencies despite high awareness and growing PPE availability and supply. The findings provide robust information about how exposures occur, why they remain high risk, and how important it is to improve reporting and surveillance to prevent occupational exposures and disease in healthcare in future.
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