Occupational Health Unit, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital, Dublin 24, Ireland.
Occup Med (Lond). 2011 Dec;61(8):570-5. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqr131. Epub 2011 Sep 9.
Those handling deceased individuals, including the funeral industry, face a variety of health and safety hazards including occupationally acquired infectious disease.
To identify the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of Irish funeral industry workers towards occupational hazards and infectious disease in 2009.
The sample analysed consisted of all listed member premises of the Irish Association of Funeral Directors as at 1 July 2009. A postal survey was sent to each premises in July 2009, with two rounds of follow-up reviews sent to non-responders. Four main areas were covered--occupational hazards, embalming, industry expertise and demographics. The quantitative and qualitative results were analysed to assess knowledge, attitudes and beliefs. Data collection was completed on 31 December 2009.
Two hundred and thirty listed member premises were contacted. Twenty-two were unsuitable for the survey. One hundred and thirty-eight valid replies were received from 130 premises, representing a premises response rate of 63% (130/208). Seventy-three premises (56%) identified themselves as embalmers. Embalmers had variable vaccine uptake and variable knowledge, attitude and beliefs towards embalming those with blood-borne viruses. Fifteen per cent of respondents reported a work-related injury, back injury being the most common. Splash and sharps injuries were reported as a work-related injury, and infections believed to be work related were also reported.
This study demonstrates widespread occupational health concerns among this professional group. It confirms the need for occupational health advice and services. There is also a strong desire for regulation of this profession in Ireland.
包括殡葬业在内的处理死者的人员面临着各种健康和安全危害，包括职业获得性传染病。
确定 2009 年爱尔兰殡葬业工人对职业危害和传染病的知识、态度和信念。
分析的样本包括截至 2009 年 7 月 1 日爱尔兰葬礼主任协会的所有在册成员场所。2009 年 7 月向每个场所寄发了一份邮政调查，对未回复者进行了两轮后续审查。涵盖了四个主要领域——职业危害、防腐、行业专业知识和人口统计学。对定量和定性结果进行了分析，以评估知识、态度和信念。数据收集于 2009 年 12 月 31 日完成。
联系了 230 家在册成员场所。22 家不适合进行调查。从 130 家场所收到了 138 份有效回复，代表场所回复率为 63%（130/208）。73 家（56%）场所自称为防腐师。防腐师的疫苗接种率各不相同，对处理血液传播病毒的防腐师的知识、态度和信念也各不相同。15%的受访者报告了工作相关伤害，背部受伤最为常见。飞溅和锐器伤害被报告为工作相关伤害，也报告了被认为与工作有关的感染。
这项研究表明，该专业群体普遍存在职业健康问题。它证实了需要提供职业健康咨询和服务。爱尔兰也强烈希望对该行业进行监管。
