Overview of risks in pharmaceutical technology

Working in the field of pharmaceutical technology involves numerous risks that can affect quality of life at work. Striking a balance between individual fulfilment and organisational performance is difficult to achieve in highly demanding roles such as working in controlled-atmosphere areas. However, a good quality of life at work has a positive impact on productivity, creativity, absence rates and staff turnover, amongst other. It is therefore important to implement measures in this area, particularly as younger generations attach particular importance to well-being at work.
Risks in pharmaceutical technology can be categorised into three main areas:

• Technical risks: exposure to cytotoxic agents, workplace ergonomics, technological complexity, breakdowns and technical incidents ;
• Organisational risks: time pressure, understaffing and staff shortages, increasing complexity of activities, interruptions and variability in workflows ;
• Human risks: medication errors, training and skills, communication with clinical teams, teamwork.
  If no action is taken to mitigate these risks, negative consequences can be expected from both a physical and psychological perspective, leading to a deterioration in quality of life at work. It is therefore necessary to implement a risk management strategy, which may initially be global (e.g. FMEA), in order to assess the current situation and implement targeted measures addressing the most critical risks. Subsequently, each risk must be addressed through specific measures, which are numerous and highly diverse. Examples include measuring environmental contamination, improving workplace ergonomics, optimising efficiency (e.g. LEAN management), raising awareness on safety culture, deploying communication tools within the team, or launching a project on workplace atmosphere and attractiveness.

By the end of this presentation, participants should be able to:

• Gain an overview of the risks in pharmaceutical technology and their potential impact on quality of life at work;
• Identify several possible actions to mitigate these risks within their organisation.