OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS
BY LOCATION IN THE HOSPITAL*
Central supply | Ethylene oxide | Infection Broken equipment (cuts) Soaps, detergents Steam Flammable gases Lifting Noise Asbestos insulation Mercury Dialysis units | Infection | Formaldehyde Dental service | Mercury | Ethylene oxide Anesthetic gases Ionizing radiation Infection Food service | Wet floors | Sharp equipment Noise Soaps, detergents Disinfectants Ammonia Chlorine Solvents Drain cleaners Oven cleaners Caustic solutions Pesticides Microwave ovens Steam lines Ovens Heat Electrical hazards Lifting Housekeeping | Soaps, detergents | Cleaners Solvents Disinfectants Glutaraldehyde Infection Needle punctures Wastes (chemical, radioactive infectious) Electrical hazards Lifting Climbing Slips, falls Laboratory | Infectious diseases | Toxic chemicals Benzene Ethylene oxide Formaldehyde Solvents Flammable and explosive agents Carcinogens Teratogens Mutagens Cryogenic hazards Wastes (chemical, radioactive, infectious) Radiation Laundry | Wet floors | Lifting Noise Heat Burns Infection Needle punctures Detergents, soaps Bleaches Solvents Wastes (chemical and radioactive) Maintenance and engineering | Electrical hazards | Tools, machinery Noise Welding fumes Asbestos Flammable liquids Solvents Mercury Pesticides Cleaners Ammonia Carbon monoxide Ethylene oxide Freons Paints, adhesives Water treatment chemicals Sewage Heat stress Cold stress (refrigeration units) Falls Lifting Climbing Strains and sprains Nuclear medicine | Radionuclides | Infection X-irradiation Office areas and data processing | Video display terminals
| Air quality Ergonomic/body mechanics Chemicals Ozone Operating rooms | Anesthetics | Antiseptics Methyl methacrylate Compressed gasses Sterilizing gases Infection Electrical Sharp instruments Lifting Pathology | Infectious diseases | Formaldehyde Glutaraldehyde Flammable substances Freons Solvents Phenols Patient care | Lifting | Pushing, pulling Slips, falls Standing for long periods Infectious diseases Needle punctures Toxic substances Chemotherapeutic agents Radiation Radioactive patients Electrical hazards Pharmacy | Pharmaceuticals | Antineoplastic agents Mercury Slips, falls Print shops | Inks | Solvents Noise Fire Radiology | Radiation | Infectious diseases Lifting Pushing, pulling *Although this list is not exhaustive, it demonstrates the variety of hazards that can exist in a hospital environment. Stress is reported by hospital workers in all job categories and is not listed separately by location. |