The most common chemical exposures of concern in the health care work environment are from sterilizing agents, chemotherapeutic agents and latex. Antineoplasticine agents represent a significant hazard for those who handle these substances and can produce adverse symptoms common to specific drug agents, including nausea, hair loss, nasal sores, lightheadedness, depressed leukocytes, skin rash, higher fetal loss and urine mutagenicity. Health care workers at increased risk are those with regular cumulative exposure from the drug mixing and administration frequently seen in oncology clinics and private oncologists' offices. Latex allergy is a growing concern for health care workers with prevalence rates of 10 percent reported in frequent glove users such as operating room personnel. Latex protein binds to the glove powder in the manufacturing process and exposure occurs through direct skin contact or through inhalation of the protein, which may be expelled into the air during glove donning or removal.
Reactions can range from contact dermatitis to systemic reactions to anaphylaxis.
Back injuries are the most prevalent and most costly injury in nursing care today. Activities associated with transferring patients from one location to another have ranked highest among the causes of back strain and injury. Contributing factors include improper lifting techniques, poor staffing, long working hours, poorly designed or inadequate equipment or work stations, employment less than one year and constitutional factors such as body size, with lack of assistive devices as a major factor. The impact of these injuries is enormous in terms of worker pain and safety, disability, lost time, absenteeism, medical care costs, personnel replacement costs and decreased productivity. In fact, studies have indicated that shift workers have more sleep-wake cycle disruptions, including nodding off at work and while driving to work.