DHA Occupational Health & Healthcare Worker Safety

Question 1

A nurse sustains a needlestick injury from a needle used on a patient with known HIV infection. What is the CORRECT immediate sequence of actions?

Accepted Answer

Wash the wound immediately with soap and water, report to occupational health, and initiate post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) within 2 hours

Answer

Apply a tourniquet, squeeze out blood, then report to occupational health

Answer

Apply antiseptic cream to the wound and complete an incident form within 24 hours

Answer

Squeeze the wound to express blood, apply alcohol wipe, and wait for HIV test results before starting PEP

Question 2

According to the hierarchy of controls for workplace hazards, which control measure provides the HIGHEST level of worker protection?

Accepted Answer

Elimination of the hazard at the source

Answer

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Answer

Administrative controls such as rotation schedules

Answer

Engineering controls such as safety needles

Question 3

A radiology technician asks about the ALARA principle. Which statement BEST describes its application in healthcare?

Accepted Answer

Radiation exposure should be kept as low as reasonably achievable using time, distance, and shielding

Answer

All radiology staff must wear lead aprons at all times, regardless of the procedure

Answer

ALARA applies only to nuclear medicine staff, not diagnostic radiology technicians

Answer

Radiation dose should be minimized only when the patient is pregnant

Question 4

A nurse reports recurring lower back pain after frequently repositioning bariatric patients without assistive devices. Which intervention BEST prevents musculoskeletal injury in this situation?

Accepted Answer

Implement a patient handling policy with mechanical lift equipment and 'no manual lift' policy for dependent patients

Answer

Train the nurse in better manual lifting technique using a straight-back posture

Answer

Advise the nurse to strengthen core muscles during off-duty hours

Answer

Rotate patient assignments so each nurse lifts fewer patients per shift

Question 5

A healthcare worker who regularly handles cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs without adequate PPE is MOST at risk for which long-term occupational health effect?

Accepted Answer

Reproductive toxicity, teratogenicity, and increased carcinogenic risk

Answer

Acute respiratory distress syndrome within 24 hours of exposure

Answer

Contact dermatitis limited to the hands — no systemic risk

Answer

Noise-induced hearing loss

Question 6

Under Dubai Health Authority occupational health regulations, what is the recommended maximum permissible noise level for continuous 8-hour occupational exposure?

Accepted Answer

85 dB(A)

Answer

70 dB(A)

Answer

95 dB(A)

Answer

100 dB(A)