Health Care Workers

Fatigue has been in the spotlight as a safety risk in the workplace. Experts say employers, as well as workers, play a role in combating the issue.

Houston – Excluding physicians, a majority of hospital workers are overweight or obese and do not take part in vigorous physical activity, according to a recent study from the University of Texas School of Public Health.

Washington – Should first-year medical residents be allowed to work for up to 28 consecutive hours without sleep? The question has stirred debate in the health care community as a proposal is considered by board members of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Boston – Women whose jobs require heavy lifting or shift work may experience decreased fertility levels, according to a study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

East Lansing, MI – Hospitals that use unit-level data on violent events to create worksite interventions could help lower the risk of patient-to-worker violence and staff injuries, a recent study from Michigan State University suggests.

Basel, Switzerland – Health care professionals’ judgment varies significantly when they conduct medical evaluations to determine whether workers should receive disability benefits for an injury or illness, and standards are needed to improve the process, according to researchers from the University of Basel.

Redmond, WA – Physio-Control has issued a voluntary field action of its LIFEPAK 1000 automated external defibrillator, citing reports of unexpected shutdowns while patients were being treated with the device.

Washington – OSHA will pursue a federal standard aimed at preventing workplace violence among health care and social service workers, after receiving petitions from National Nurses United and a coalition of labor unions led by the AFL-CIO.

Washington – With career burnout, depression and suicide among health care workers alarmingly high, the National Academy of Medicine has created an “action collaborative” of more than 20 medical organizations to address these issues.

Philadelphia – The American College of Physicians has voiced its support for a proposal that would allow first-year medical residents to work shifts of up to 28 hours without sleep.