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  • Title: Hyperbaric chamber attendant safety II: 14-year health review of multiplace chamber attendants.
    Author: Cooper PD, Van den Broek C, Smart DR.
    Journal: Diving Hyperb Med; 2009 Jun; 39(2):71-6. PubMed ID: 22753199.
    Abstract:
    INTRODUCTION: The multiplace hyperbaric chamber provides a unique working environment for health-care personnel. The major foci of concern regarding staff health under these conditions have tended to be decompression sickness (DCS) and barotrauma. Incidences of DCS as high as 1.3% have been reported in hyperbaric attendants exposed to routine treatment tables. Occupational health risks of this magnitude are not acceptable in routine clinical practice. Significant variations in procedures exist between institutions in an attempt to enhance staff safety. In extreme cases the use of multiplace chambers has been abandoned. AIM: To determine the actual incidence of work-related health issues amongst attendants at a full-time clinical hyperbaric unit. DESIGN: retrospective staff health survey. Facility: university teaching hospital. SUBJECTS: 155 medical, nursing and technical staff routinely exposed to hyperbaric conditions. RESULTS: There were no cases of DCS encountered in 6,062 attendant exposures, across all hyperbaric profiles, during this 14-year period (95% CI 0, 0.06%). Twenty-eight work-related injuries occurred during this time (0.46%), of which 25 (0.41%) were hyperbaric-specific. CONCLUSION: A multiplace hyperbaric chamber can be viewed as a relatively safe working environment.
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