Assessment of Occupational Health and Safety Measures’ Knowledge and Experienced Types of Hazards among Nursing Staff in Rania Hospital

Abstract

Background and Objectives: In recent years, significant developments have occurred in occupational health and safety programs designed to prevent and control work-related illness and injury. The aims of the study were to assess knowledge of nurses on occupational health and safety measures in hospital and their experienced type of occupational hazards’.Methods: A quantitative descriptive study of non-probability sample was conducted on 50 nurses in Rania general hospital. Data was collected from 10th August 2017 to 25th December 2017. A questionnaire was developed for the purpose of data collection which included socio-demographic attributes of the study sample and questions on occupational hazards and occupational health and safety measures. Frequency, percentage and chi-square tests were used for data analysis.Results: Proper disposal of waste (90%), Acquainting rights and obligations/career and your job Descriptions (88%), Using protective clothing (86%), Having vaccination against infectious diseases within the health facility (76%), Providing a clinic for employees at workplace (74%), Prompt reporting of accidents/injuries (72%) were the most items which nurses implied to them according their knowledge. Nurses mentioned that they experienced following occupational hazards in the hospital: physical 48%, psychological 28%, mechanical/electrical 12%, chemical 22% and biological 10%. There was a significant and highly significant association between years of experience and level of education of nurses with their overall knowledge on occupational health and safety measures, respectively but not with their age.Conclusions: Nurses did not have complete knowledge regarding occupational health and safety measures and they experienced different types of hazards during their working years.