Occupational risk assessment in hospitals: A specific job-exposure matrix

Occupational risk assessment is an obligation for all French companies, including hospitals. In the network of occupational medicine services of hospitals, we wanted to create a specific job-exposure matrix for the hospital workers. This matrix could be the first step for risk assessment in theses establishments. We made this matrix in two steps: Firstly, the writing the first version of the matrix, with hazard sheets, job sheets and risk assessment algorithm, then the validation of the matrix by occupational doctors who did not write the first version of the matrix, by Delphi method. At the end of 2007, 45 hazards were evaluated in the matrix, in more than 1000 job sheets. These job sheets concern 57 occupations in more than 80 services. This matrix is a first level of information for the hospitals, including prevention priorities. But each establishment has to complete the matrix with its own evaluation, which has to take into account its local specificities. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.