Occupational Hazards and Health for Anesthesiologists

INTRODUCTION Employment in the health care industry can be hazardous to one’s health. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, health care is second only to manufacturing in the number of occupational illnesses and injuries sustained by their workers. Anesthesia personnel are at risk of acquiring a number of occupational illnesses and injuries that are endemic to the high intensity environment of the operating room. Workplace hazards include exposure to waste anesthetic gases, ionizing radiation, and to infectious agents. Anesthesia care providers are vulnerable to injury from accidents, fires, or explosions. Additionally, anesthesia personnel are susceptible to emotional and psychological disorders such as burnout and substance abuse engendered at least in part by the high stress and other demands inherent in their work. In the following discussion we will consider the sources of many of these injuries and practical means of avoidance. We will also discuss the growing awareness of the importance of preventative strategies that encourage wellness among our colleagues.