Healthcare Employees’ Occupational Health and Safety Conditions in Saudi Arabia; A Mini Literature Review

Abstract

Healthcare workers face several threats when they practice their daily work. These factors can impact their occupational health and safety and negatively impact patient health care by reducing quality health care in the health sector. The purpose of this study is to provide a mini-review of the previous studies about some factors that can considerably impact occupational health and safety for the healthcare team. These factors are physical and psychological aspects. The authors individually completed a literature review for this article via an independent study followed by a collaborative discussion. The authors researched available sources to provide some results about these factors and how they can reduce the level of occupational health and safety for the health team provider and the safe and sound delivery of quality care for the patient. The results of this mini-review indicated that the physical and psychological aspects of the health team workers significantly impact the level of occupational health and safety, which can dramatically affect patient care. Therefore, early and proper educational courses and stress roles are necessary to reduce or even eliminate these factors, which cause negatively influence the occupational health and safety of the staff the patient care, as well as increase the burden on the health organization. This requires a multidisciplinary management approach to meet occupational health and safety requirements. Future research should concentrate on these factors to increase the health care provider’s awareness about maintaining their occupational health and safety during their duty and examine some policy that helps reduce these impacts.