Elevated risk of breast cancer, melanoma, thyroid cancer, myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, asthma, and carpal tunnel syndrome were observed among nurses compared to other occupations in the ODSS. Contact dermatitis is also an occupational disease risk common in nurses although this relationship was not observed in the ODSS.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer among women is often attributed to reproductive, genetic, and hormonal factors such as family history, reproductive history, and use of oral contraception. Detecting increased risk of breast cancer in both male and female nurses is consistent with the hypothesis that work-related risk factors such as night shift work may be a contributing factor.

Excess risk observed among nursing professionals working in diagnostic and therapeutic services may be related to their exposure to ionizing radiation.

Melanoma

Nursing professionals employed across institution types had consistently increased risks of melanoma. Previous studies have similarly observed higher risk for melanoma among nurses although the relationship is not well understood [19-21].

Thyroid Cancer

The thyroid is one of the body’s most sensitive organs to ionizing radiation and studies have shown that occupational exposures to low doses of ionizing radiation have an effect on thyroid function [22].

Myeloma

Previous research has found increased risks of myeloma among health care workers and suggests that the higher risks may be attributed to exposure to viral and bacterial infections [23,24]. Working in diagnostic and therapeutic services may lead to higher levels of exposures to infectious patients or infectious substances in patient bio-samples.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)

Occupational risk factors for NHL are not well understood. Some previous studies have found an increased risk of NHL among patients exposed to ionizing radiation from medical imaging, as well as among people infected with certain viral pathogens. While occupational exposure has not been directly linked to increased risk, these may be possible NHL risk factors for nurses [25].

Asthma

Previous studies have observed increased risk of asthma among health care workers and have attributed this to the use of cleaning products and administration of aerosolized medications [26-28].

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Repetitive or forceful hand and wrist movements may put nurses at risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Pushing down the plunger in syringes, pressing blood pressure bulbs, or manually lifting or moving a patient are some of the repetitive movements that nurses may encounter.

Contact dermatitis

Nursing professionals are generally considered high risk for dermatitis due to exposure to wet work through hand hygiene and extensive glove use. Studies have reported that contact dermatitis among health care workers remains high even with the promotion of preventative measures such as developing best practice guidelines for glove use, using hand moisturizing products, and using hand alcohol with emollients (moisturizer) instead of soap and water as a disinfectant when appropriate [29,30].

This association was not observed among nurses in the ODSS. A possible explanation may be that nurses may be more likely than other workers to self-manage their skin condition, so no physician diagnosis is captured in the data sources establishing the ODSS [31].

Resources:

Free e-learning module on work-related contact dermatitis offered by Public Services Health & Safety Association.

Occupation and industry descriptions

1. Nurses: occupations concerned with assisting physicians and giving nursing care to the sick or injured. This definition includes Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses, and Licensed Practical Nurses. This does not include nursing supervisors.
2. Diagnostic and Therapeutic services: Establishments primarily engaged in rendering diagnostic and therapeutic services not elsewhere specified. This includes laboratories (dental, medical, x-ray, etc.), providing professional analysis, diagnosis, or treatment services, or organizations such as the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, and St. John Ambulance.
3. Nursing, Therapy, and Related Assisting Occupations: encompasses occupations concerned with giving nursing care to the sick and other related assisting occupations such as nursing supervisors, graduate nurses, registered nursing assistants, physiotherapist, occupational therapists, nursing aides and orderlies, and other related assisting occupations not elsewhere classified.
4. Related Health Care Institutions: Establishments such as nursing homes and infirmaries primarily engaged in providing nursing care and accommodations for inpatients.
5. Miscellaneous Health Services: Establishments commonly referred to as voluntary health associations primarily engaged in promoting health and health services other than diagnostic or therapeutic services. This includes places such as Canadian Hospital Association, Canadian Public Health Association, National Cancer Institute.
6. Welfare Organizations: Establishments primarily engaged in providing basic home care (no treatments or nursing care), such as homes for the aged, blind or senile, boarding houses for the aged, day nurseries, or shelters.

It is important to identify and understand workplace hazards to be able to properly control them. The recognizing, assessing, controlling, and evaluating (RACE) process is designed to help identify and address workplace hazards. More information on this process can be found on Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development’s Supervisor Health and Safety Awareness in 5 steps document here .

Implementing comprehensive exposure reduction policies and practices at the system and institutional level that include, wherever possible, elimination, substitution, and engineering controls in addition to administrative practices can reduce occupational exposures for workers. Employers should also continue providing workers with education and training in reducing the risk of occupational exposures.

Night shift work

For nurses working in institutions providing around the clock care, night shift work may be unavoidable. However, some of the adverse health effects of shift work may be reduced through modifications to shift scheduling practices [32,33]. Risk reduction strategies presented by the Institute of Work and Health and the Workers Health & Safety Centre include, where possible:

• • Avoiding permanent night work
  • Using forward-rotating (morning to evening to night) shift schedules
  • Limiting the number of consecutive night shifts
  • Increasing the speed of shift rotations
  • Providing adequate resting time (>11 hours) between shifts
  • Limiting weekend work
  • Allowing self-scheduling to give individuals some control over their work and rest days

Ionizing radiation

Exposure to ionizing radiation should be kept as low as reasonably achievable. This is accomplished by reducing the time spent in areas with radiation exposure, increasing the distance between the worker and radiation source, and properly using shielding barriers such as a lead apron or concrete walls. Wearing personal dosimeters when at work helps measure radiation exposure and can help prevent overexposure.

There are both federal and provincial regulations governing the use of ionizing radiation in healthcare settings to reduce the risk of ionizing radiation to workers. This includes ensuring adequate shielding is used in the design of workspaces, use of warning indicators, and ensuring regular testing of equipment. More information on government regulations can be found below:

• Radiation-regulation and application in healthcare settings
  
• Radiation Safety Institute of Canada

Antineoplastic drugs

Ensuring institutions have policies and procedures in place outlining the safe handling of antineoplastic drugs can help reduce the risk of worker exposure. All potentially exposed workers should have access to safety protocols and have routine training on the safety procedures to prevent mishandling. This includes workers at all stages of antineoplastic drug handling, from shipping and storage to disposal.

Implementing engineering controls such as biological safety cabinets, using separate equipment when handling or dispensing antineoplastic drugs, or closed system transfer devices can also minimize occupational exposure.

Resources:

The Public Services Health and Safety Association:

• The Antineoplastic Drug Risk Assessment in Community Settings Manual provides a guide and assessment tool aims to help workplaces identify and reduce their exposure to antineoplastic drugs
• Free e-learning module available on antineoplastic drugs. This module was developed through the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development funding with Dr. Chun- Yin Hop

Occupational Cancer Research Centre:

• Assessment of safe antineoplastic drug handling practices in community pharmacies, veterinary settings and long-term care homes in Ontario report

Screening

Following proper cancer screening guidelines can help identify and treat cancers earlier, and lead to better treatment outcomes.

Breast cancer screening:

The Ontario Breast Screening Program encourages most women between the ages of 50-74 to get screened using mammography every 2 years. To learn more about the Ontario Breast Screening Program, visit the Cancer Care Ontario website here.

Skin cancer screening:

Ontario does not have a routine skin cancer screening program. Those at higher risk of skin cancer are advised to see their health care provider or dermatologist to discuss their risk and any routine screening recommendations. Examples of factors that may increase the  risk of skin cancer include a family history of melanoma, a personal history of skin cancer (basal or squamous cell carcinoma), or use of medications that weaken the body’s immune response (i.e. immunosuppressive medication after an organ transplant) or make the skin more sensitive to the sun.

The Canadian Dermatology Association has outlined steps for individuals to complete a self-skin examination at home with what to look for during the examination

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