1. Although healthcare workers face hazards at the workplace, they can take steps to significantly reduce exposure.
ANSWER: T POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Know the chief types of hazards faced by healthcare workers
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding
2. HIV and Hepatitis B are blood-borne pathogens.
ANSWER: T POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Know the chief types of hazards faced by healthcare workers
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Remembering
3. Procedures such as computerized surveillance, hand hygiene, and use of gloves and masks have been shown to significantly reduce healthcare-associated infections.
ANSWER: T POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Describe the benefits of maintaining a safe healthcare workplace
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding
4. Glutaraldehyde is found in disinfectants for heat-sensitive medical instruments, x-ray film developing fluids, and tissue fixatives.
ANSWER: T POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Know the chief types of hazards faced by healthcare workers
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Remembering
5. Personal protective equipment is considered the most important factor in workplace safety.
ANSWER: F POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Understand how engineering controls, safe work practice, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment prevent workplace hazards
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding
6. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the primary agency that prescribes and enforces safety standards in the healthcare workplace.
ANSWER: F POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Name key laws and agencies that oversee safety in the healthcare workplace
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Remembering
7. A floor plan designed to keep chemical use, storage, and waste disposal in a designated area away from high foot traffic is an example of an engineering control.
ANSWER: T POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Understand how engineering controls, safe work practice, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment prevent workplace hazards
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding
8. Replacing mercury thermometers with digital thermometers is an example of personal protective equipment.
ANSWER: F POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Understand how engineering controls, safe work practice, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment prevent workplace hazards
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding
9. Safety training is an example of an administrative control.
ANSWER: T POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Understand how engineering controls, safe work practice, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment prevent workplace hazards
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding
10. Following standard operating procedures is a component of safe work practice.
ANSWER: T POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Understand how engineering controls, safe work practice, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment prevent workplace hazards
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The CDC reports 57 documented cases of transmission of HIV to healthcare workers in the workplace since 2001. This is an example of which healthcare hazard?
a. | infectious hazard | c. | chemical hazard |
b. | blood-borne pathogen hazard | d. | radiation hazard |
ANSWER: B POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Know the chief types of hazards faced by healthcare workers
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying
2. Examples of radiological hazards include:
a. | immune suppression, mutations, cancer, low birth weight, miscarriage, and/or birth defects. | c. | skin, eye, and respiratory irritants, flammable, explosive, corrosive, or carcinogenic materials. |
b. | HIV/AIDS and blood-borne pathogens. | d. | tuberculosis, influenza, staphylococcal skin infections, and urinary tract infections. |
ANSWER: A POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Know the chief types of hazards faced by healthcare workers
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Remembering
3. Which of the following poses the greatest risk to patients and employees in the healthcare setting?
a. | exposure to hazardous chemicals used in healthcare settings | c. | physical injury from accidents |
b. | healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) | d. | radiation exposure from medical testing |
ANSWER: B POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Know the chief types of hazards faced by healthcare workers
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding
4. Which agency establishes and enforces safety standards in the healthcare workplace?
a. | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | c. | American Medical Association (AMA) |
b. | National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) | d. | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
ANSWER: D POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Name key laws and agencies that oversee safety in the healthcare workplace
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Remembering
5. Which of the following does not rely on human choice and is not affected by human error?
a. | administrative controls | c. | safe work practice |
b. | personal protective equipment | d. | engineering controls |
ANSWER: D POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Understand how engineering controls, safe work practice, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment prevent workplace hazards
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Remembering
6. When workers follow standard operating procedures, they are implementing:
a. | safe work practice. | c. | administrative controls. |
b. | engineering controls. | d. | personal protective equipment. |
ANSWER: A POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Understand how engineering controls, safe work practice, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment prevent workplace hazards
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding
7. A written safety plan at the workplace is an example of:
a. | an administrative control. | c. | safe work practice. |
b. | personal protective equipment. | d. | an engineering control. |
ANSWER: A POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Understand how engineering controls, safe work practice, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment prevent workplace hazards
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding
8. If a syringe and needle are placed in the waste bin instead of in the sharps container, which control measure failed?
a. | engineering control | c. | personal protective equipment |
b. | administrative control | d. | safe work practice |
ANSWER: D POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Medium
OBJECTIVE: Understand how engineering controls, safe work practice, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment prevent workplace hazards
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying
9. All of the following are examples of administrative controls except:
a. | monitoring and reporting radiation exposure. | c. | providing employee training. |
b. | maintaining equipment. | d. | following standard operating procedures. |
ANSWER: D POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Understand how engineering controls, safe work practice, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment prevent workplace hazards
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding
10. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, knowing hazards and learning to adhere to applicable standards is the responsibility of whom?
a. | OSHA | c. | patients |
b. | employers | d. | employees |
ANSWER: D POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Easy
OBJECTIVE: Name key laws and agencies that oversee safety in the healthcare workplace
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding
COMPLETION
1. List the four major types of hazards faced by healthcare workers.
a. __________________________
b. __________________________
c. __________________________
d. __________________________
ANSWER:
a. infectious hazards
b. blood-borne pathogens
c. chemical hazards
d. radiation hazards
POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Medium
OBJECTIVE: Know the chief types of hazards faced by healthcare workers
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Remembering
ESSAY
1. Describe why infection control is critical for safety in the healthcare setting.
ANSWER:
Maintaining a safe environment protects patients and employees, and improves the quality of healthcare. Many patients coming to a clinic are already sick and may have infectious diseases. This increases the chance that workers and other patients may be exposed. Elderly and ill patients also have suppressed immune systems and are at higher risk of contracting disease compared to the general population. Also, some healthcare workers may have infections themselves and must not spread them to patients.
Legally, employers are required to implement training and procedures to reduce the risk of blood-borne pathogens. Workers are required to adhere to these standards as well.
POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Medium
OBJECTIVE: Describe the benefits of maintaining a safe healthcare workplace
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Evaluating
2. List and provide examples of the four chief types of hazards faced by healthcare workers.
ANSWER:
Infectious hazards include respiratory infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. Blood-borne pathogens include HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Chemical hazards include respiratory, eye, and skin irritants, corrosive, flammable, or explosive liquids, and cancer- and/or mutation-causing chemicals. Radiation hazards include risks of cancer, suppressed immune systems, mutations, and risks to the unborn child.
POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Medium
OBJECTIVE: Know the chief types of hazards faced by healthcare workers
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding
3. Name the chief agency that oversees safety in the healthcare workplace, and describe its role. Describe its role in at least one administrative and one safe work practice control.
ANSWER:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) prescribes and enforces safety standards in the workplace, including healthcare settings. OSHA requires employers to assess the workplace for safety hazards, provide safety training for employees, and keep records. Employees, in turn, are required to follow safe work practices established by OSHA standards.
POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Difficult
OBJECTIVE: Name key laws and agencies that oversee safety in the healthcare workplace; Understand how engineering controls, safe work practice, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment prevent workplace hazards
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Analyzing
4. List and provide two examples for each of the four elements of a safe working environment.
ANSWER:
Engineering controls include ventilation, chemical hoods, safe storage and disposal equipment. Administrative controls include written safety plans, training, and recordkeeping. Safe work practices involve following best practices and using PPE when required. PPE includes gloves, masks, gowns, respirators, and protective eyewear.
POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Medium
OBJECTIVE: Understand how engineering controls, safe work practice, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment prevent workplace hazards
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding
5. Describe how each of the four elements of a safe working environment can prevent the spread of blood-borne pathogens.
ANSWER:
Engineering controls such as sharps containers reduce the risk of needlestick hazards, and hand hygiene stations with alcohol rubs prevent transmission. Administrative controls should include providing employee training workshops on blood-borne pathogens. Employees should read and follow safe work practices, for example, making sure sharps containers are not already full before beginning a phlebotomy. Personal protective equipment such as gloves need to be worn appropriately to prevent transmission of pathogens in blood and body fluids.
POINTS: 1 DIFFICULTY: Difficult
OBJECTIVE: Understand how engineering controls, safe work practice, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment prevent workplace hazards
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Analyzing
