TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1997//
TI  - Risks associated with occupational glass injury in bar staff with special consideration of hepatitis B infection
JO  - Occupational medicine
A1  - McLean, W.
A1  - Shepherd, Jonathan P.
A1  - Brann, C. R.
A1  - Westmoreland, D.
SP  - 147
EP  - 150
VL  - 47
IS  - 3
N2  - Since bar workers often sustain cuts from unwashed bar glasses, the aims of this study were to investigate risk of injury and to examine the sero-prevalence of markers for hepatitis B amongst bar staff. Ninety-one bar staff recruited by newspaper advertisement were asked about injury experience and life-style risks associated with transmission of hepatitis B and were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and core antibody (anti-HBc). Seventy-four per cent reported lacerations from broken glassware at work: 18% had sustained such injuries in more than 10 incidents. Fifty-five per cent of respondents reported occupational skin contact with body fluids. Anti-HBc prevalence for the study group was 1.1%, suggesting that bar staff were not at increased risk from hepatitis B infection. Although 30% wore gloves for high-risk tasks, there was no evidence that glove wearing prevented glass lacerations. This level of injury experience and exposure to body fluids is unacceptable and represents a potential risk of cross-infection. Hepatitis B immunization should be considered in this group. Urgent action, including the replacement, wherever possible, of annealed with tempered bar-glassware, is necessary to protect bar workers from glass injury.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0962-7480
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -