A framework for occupational health risk assessment of nursing personnel in Indian healthcare system

Abstract

Nursing personnel are exposed to different kinds of health hazards because of various job characteristics and complex work systems. The objective of this study is to identify and analyze the risk factors related to occupational health hazards of nurses in the Indian healthcare system. A three-phase methodology is used to assess occupational risk factors. Through literature review and opinions of experienced nursing personnel, the risk factors such as biological, chemical, ergonomic, physical, and psychosocial are identified and evaluated based on three parameters i.e., the effect of exposure, exposure period and exposure probability. The weights of the parameters are determined by Best-Worst Method (BWM) and the Fuzzy VIKOR method is considered to rank the risk factors in accordance with their level of severity. Biological and ergonomic risk factors are found to have higher levels of adverse effects in all the wards of Indian hospitals whereas, impact of chemical, physical and psychosocial risk factors varied from ward to ward. The risk assessment framework as developed helps to categorize risk factors from high degree to moderate degree, which might help to prepare an action plan to mitigate the risks associated with nursing activities in order to improve their health and safety status at the hospital.