RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OCCUPATIONAL GLASS INJURY IN BAR STAFF WITH SPECIAL CONSIDERATION OF HEPATITIS-B INFECTION

Since bar workers often sustain cuts from unwashed bar glasses, the ai ms of this study were to investigate risk of injury and to examine the sere-prevalence of markers for hepatitis B amongst bar staff. Ninety- one bar staff recruited by newspaper advertisement were asked about in jury experience and life-style risks associated with transmission of h epatitis B and were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and core antibody (anti-HBc). Seventy-four per cent reported lacerations from broken glassware at work: 18% had sustained such injuries in more than 10 incidents. Fifty-five per cent of respondents reported occupa tional skin contact with body fluids. Anti-HBc prevalence for the stud y group was 1.1%, suggesting that bar staff were not at increased risk from hepatitis B infection. Although 30% wore gloves for high-risk ta sks, there was no evidence that glove wearing prevented glass lacerati ons. This level oi injury experience and exposure to body fluids is un acceptable and represents a potential risk of cross-infection. Hepatit is B immunization should be considered in this group. Urgent action, i ncluding the replacement, wherever possible, of annealed with tempered bar-glassware, is necessary to protect bar workers from glass injury.