Occupational Safety Practices Research Articles

Promoting Knowledge Dissemination and Sharing Via Interactive Research: Pioneering an EvidenceBased Approach to Enhance Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Implementa-tion

Effective occupational health and safety (OHS) practices play a crucial role in preserving the health and safety of employees in the workplace. In this context, the effectiveness and efficiency of OHS practices require the continuous integration of up-to-date and evidence-based information. Occupational health and safety are constantly faced with new threats, making it vital for OHS practices to remain current and adaptable. In this regard, this study aims to explore the potential of interactive research methods to support knowledge transfer and exchange within the field of OHS. Compared to traditional methods of sharing information, interactive research encourages a more profound exchange of knowledge among OHS practitioners. This fosters the rapid adaptation and more effective implementation of OHS strategies in workplaces. Particularly noteworthy is the promotion of real-time information sharing among OHS practitioners, enabling swift responses to emergencies or emerging risks. Interactive research methods also have the capacity to establish a collaborative platform among OHS professionals, decision-makers, and researchers. This approach not only encourages more informed decision-making in OHS matters but also enhances the more effective management of workplace risks. The continuous improvement and updating of OHS practices further contribute to providing better protection for the health and safety of employees. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the need for OHS professionals, decision-makers, and researchers to embrace interactive research methods to create safer and healthier work environments. These methods contribute to the ongoing enhancement of OHS practices and aid in minimizing workplace risks. This innovative approach within the field of OHS plays a pivotal role in achieving the goal of creating safer and healthier workplaces in the future.

Hubungan Antara Pengetahuan dengan Kejadian Kecelakaan Kerja Pada Pekerja Bengkel Las: Kajian Literatur

The number of workplace accidents in Indonesia continues to increase every year. In 2019, there were 210,789 cases of workplace accidents, which rose to 221,740 cases in 2020, and further increased to 234,370 cases in 2021. The welding process involves various risks of workplace accidents that may occur at different stages. Starting from selecting and moving products, workers can be scratched by materials or even hit by them. The purpose of this research is to determine whether there is a relationship between knowledge and workplace accidents among welding workshop workers using a qualitative method. Conclusion: There is a significant correlation between an individual's knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) practices and their performance in the work environment. The better the welders' knowledge of OHS, in terms of basic knowledge, understanding of concepts, and application in the field, the lower the risk of workplace accidents.

Comprehensive analysis of occupational radiation exposure and radiation safety practices in cardiac catheterization laboratories: A five-year experience

AimThe objective is to analyze the occupational radiation dose experienced by medical workers in the Cardiac catheterization Lab in Bahrain and evaluate their adherence to established radiation safety protocols. Material and methodsRetrospective analysis for the Hp(10) and Hp(0.07) doses over a five-year (2017–2021). Descriptive analyses conducted for both annual dose and cumulative data across all years for all healthcare workers. A questionnaire was administered to evaluate their adherence to radiation safety protocols. Descriptive statistics were conducted for all responses and ANOVA was conducted to discern differences in best practices across various demographics groups. ResultsNo single dose exceeded the dose limits and 89.4% of the workers received Hp(10) and Hp(0.07) radiation doses of less than 2 mSv. The overall mean and range of the annual Hp(10) and Hp(0.07) radiation dose over the 5-year study period for all workers were 1.07 (9.50-0.01) and 0.64 (11.30-0.02), respectively. The overall mean and range of the annual Hp(10) and Hp(0.07) (mSv) for cardiologists were 1.79 (9.50-0.04) and 1.42 (11.30-0.07), respectively. The survey showed inconsistent practices and gaps. In best practice scoring, physicians had highest score and cardiovascular technologists scored the lowest. ConclusionIt is important to emphasize proper radiation safety practices for healthcare professionals to reduce the risk of long-term repeated exposure. Commitment to radiation safety is shows the dedication to providing high-quality care and adhering to radiation safety practices is an ethical obligation towards patient. There is a need for tailored training on radiation safety and enforcement of safety measures.

A comprehensive risk assessment framework for occupational health and safety in pharmaceutical warehouses using Pythagorean fuzzy Bayesian networks

Risk assessment plays a crucial role in managing occupational health and safety in various industries, including pharmaceutical warehouses. Bayesian Networks (BN) have been widely employed for risk assessment due to their ability to handle uncertainty and quantify risks. However, the traditional BN approach has limitations in dealing with ambiguity and continuous variables. To address this, the fuzzy BN technique, combining fuzzy logic with BN, has emerged as an effective method for risk assessment. In this study, a fuzzy BN model using Pythagorean fuzzy sets is proposed for risk assessment in a pharmaceutical warehouse. The model incorporates 24 identified risk factors, and survey data is used to determine the conditional probabilities of these factors. The novelty of the study lies in the application of Pythagorean fuzzy sets and the development of risk assessment criteria specifically for pharmaceutical warehouses. The results of a comprehensive literature review and the proposed methodology are presented. A real case analysis is conducted, followed by validation and sensitivity analysis. The results provide valuable insights into enhancing occupational health and safety practices in pharmaceutical warehouses. The study contributes to enhancing occupational health and safety practices in pharmaceutical warehouses and provides a framework for future research.

Analysis of Factors Influencing Health and Safety Programmes in Selected Electricity Distribution Companies

The study determined the factors influencing health and safety programme in the selected electricity distribution companies in Southwest, Nigeria. The study used descriptive survey research design. The study used primary sources of data, and the data were gathered through administration of questionnaire. The population for the study comprised of 11,621 workers of electricity companies in Southwest, Nigeria. A sample size of 400 was determined through the use of Taro Yamane formula and 385 were valid for usage. The sample was selected using two-stage sampling technique. At the first stage, purposive sampling technique was used in selecting employees who have used at least five years in the company; at the second stage, stratified random sampling technique was used in selecting employees using a senior, middle and junior categorisation of workers for stratification. The results also revealed that the human factors (t =5.836, p < 0.05), management factors (t = 3.898, p < 0.05), organisational factors (t = 2.120, p < 0.05) and environmental factors (t = 2.102, p < 0.05) were the factors influencing occupational health and safety practices in the study area. The study concluded that occupational health and safety practices have the potency of reducing the rate at which accidents and injuries occur among the workers and thereby improving the employees’ performance in Southwest, Nigeria. The study recommended that the factors that could reduce the potency of the health and safety programme should be controlled and be prevented.

School Occupational Health and Safety Performance Scale: Validity and Reliability Study for Scale Development

The aim of this study is to develope a scale to evaluate the performance of occupational health and safety practices in schools. The form created for this purpose was presented to experts and the content validity rates of the items were determined in line with the feedback received. The items with a content validity ratio below .80 were excluded from the study. The 49-item trial form was applied via e-mail to 990 teachers working at primary, secondary, and high school levels in public and private schools in İstanbul, affiliated with the Ministry of National Education, and the data obtained were analyzed. With exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), a two-dimensional structure consisting of 40 items in total revealed "Occupational Health and Safety Training Practices Applied in Schools" and "Occupational Health and Safety Practices Applied in Schools, Managerial Precautions and Precautions". It was determined that the goodness of-fit indices of the model were quite high. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) also confirmed the EFA results. The obtained correlation coefficients were examined. Item-total score correlation coefficients were between r = .878 and r = .650, and a significant relationship was observed at the p < .01 level. The internal consistency coefficient obtained for the entire scale was .92. There was a significant (p< 0.05) difference between the items and the total score between the 27% lower and 27% upper groups. It was determined that this difference was in favor of the upper 27% group. There was high reliability in the items on the scale, and the items were distinguishable on the basis of the characteristics the scorers of the scale were looking for.

Evolution of Occupational Safety and Health Disclosure Practices: Insights from 8 Years in Taiwan’s Construction Industry

Evolution of Occupational Safety and Health Disclosure Practices: Insights from 8 Years in Taiwan’s Construction Industry

A novel approach to the dual sugar test for the assessment of intestinal epithelium permeability in response to exertional heat stress and nutritional intervention

An acute increase in intestinal epithelium permeability is induced by prolonged exertion in the heat, resulting in the translocation of pathogenic bacteria and endotoxins from the lumen into the circulation, causing a systemic inflammatory response and debilitating symptoms(1). Acute exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome mimics chronic health conditions with which an impaired intestinal barrier function is associated, including coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and liver diseases(2). Intestinal epithelium permeability is typically assessed using a dual sugar absorption test, by administering a drink containing non-metabolisable sugars (e.g. lactulose [L] and L-rhamnose [R]) that can enter the circulation by paracellular translocation when the epithelium is compromised, and are subsequently excreted and measured cumulatively in the urine(3). We aimed to demonstrate that our recently developed ion chromatography protocol(4) can be used to accurately quantify L/R ratio in the plasma of participants exercising in hot ambient conditions and to determine the impact of nutritional intervention on intestinal epithelium permeability. Further, we hypothesised that measuring L/R in plasma collected at intervals during the post-exercise recovery period would reveal more information about intestinal permeability compared to previously published cumulative urine L/R data(3). Endurance-trained participants completed a set of randomised crossover studies, consisting of 2 h running at 60% V˙O2max in temperate, warm and hot ambient conditions (n = 8) and/or in the heat while consuming water, carbohydrate or protein (n = 9). The dual sugar solution was ingested at 90 min of exercise and blood was sampled at 0, 1, 2 and 4 h post-exercise. Plasma sugars were quantified by high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) and L/R ratios were compared by two-way repeated measures ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons. Plasma L/R increased immediately post-exercise in the heat (0.15 ± 0.11) compared with temperate (0.06 ± 0.04, p<0.001) and warm (0.09 ± 0.08, p<0.01) conditions, while consuming glucose before and during exercise alleviated this (0.02 ± 0.02, p<0.001), and this novel information was otherwise missed when measuring urine L/R. Consuming glucose or whey protein hydrolysate during exercise attenuated intestinal permeability from exertional heat stress throughout recovery, with the mean plasma L/R over 4 h reduced from 0.11 ± 0.05 to 0.04 ± 0.03 (p<0.001) and 0.06 ± 0.04 (p<0.01) with glucose and protein, respectively. We recommend using the dual sugar test with quantification of plasma sugars at intervals by HPAEC-PAD to maximise intestinal permeability data collection in exercise gastroenterology research and beyond, as this gives additional acute response information compared to urinary measurements. Our approach can be employed to investigate and develop personalised nutrition strategies that prevent intestinal hyperpermeability during exertional heat stress. This has implications for athlete performance and safety, and can also build upon occupational health and safety practices and inform chronic disease management.

Occupational safety & health risk analysis in formwork in high-rise building projects

The implementation of Occupational Health and Safety Management systems remains a significant concern, particularly in the context of multi-storey building construction projects. Within the realm of these complex endeavors, the management of work-related accidents during formwork operations is of paramount importance. This research employs a rigorous methodology involving questionnaire distribution and interviews, complemented by advanced analytical tools such as the Frequency Adjusted Importance Index (FAII) and Bow Tie Analysis. The study focuses on the Indonesian Development University’s high-rise building project, systematically assessing potential hazards associated with formwork activities. Furthermore, this research evaluates the inherent risk levels and proposes comprehensive control measures to mitigate these hazards effectively. By shedding light on the intricate interplay between safety management and high-rise construction, this study contributes to the enhancement of occupational safety and health practices in the construction industry, ultimately promoting safer and more efficient work environments.

The Application of Attribution Theory in Understanding Women Workers' Perception of Occupational Health and Safety in the Metal Industry: A Focus Group Investigation

With the advent of the industrial revolution, women have become integral participants in the workforce, facing occupational risks similar to men. However, due to societal gender roles, women often encounter heightened psychosocial risk factors in the workplace, impacting both their attitudes towards work and societal roles. This study explores women workers' awareness of psychosocial risk factors within the Turkish metal industry. Employing attribution theories from social psychology, the study investigates negative attitudes towards occupational health and safety practices. Utilizing qualitative methods, data was gathered through focus group discussions with 155 female members of the Turkish Metal Union in Bursa, Turkey. The study evaluates factors such as job satisfaction, job stress, wellness, and relationships with coworkers and managers. Findings suggest that work stress and communication issues are significant psychosocial risk factors contributing to job dissatisfaction.

Application of Virtual Reality (VR) Technology in Mining and Civil Engineering

Virtual reality (VR) is one of the most innovative technologies that allows the development of a computerised, three-dimensional image that imitates reality. With this solution, it is possible to show different objects and even simulate a sequence of actions. The application of virtual reality technology in industries with high accident rates, such as mining and construction, contributes to sustainability by enhancing occupational health and safety (OHS) practices. However, it should be emphasised that the application of VR in these industries is much broader and includes aspects such as visualisation, monitoring and design. This research contributes to sustainability by identifying research gaps, providing an in-depth systematic review of the use of virtual reality technology and outlining the potential of VR technology to advance safety practices in mining and construction, thereby promoting the well-being of workers, reducing accidents and minimising negative environmental impacts associated with workplace incidents. Based on the analyses performed, the future of VR technology for improving work processes in terms of the safety, efficiency and profitability of implementation is outlined. The results of this study provide a comprehensive framework for identifying research gaps in this area to advance research in the academic community and to improve safety in mining and construction workplaces.

Prevalence of noise-induced health hazards and occupational safety practices among welders in Mysuru city: a cross-sectional study

Background: Occupational exposure to noise is a significant concern in the welding industry, posing potential health hazards to workers. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of noise-induced health hazards, knowledge regarding these hazards, and the practice of preventive measures among welders in Mysuru City. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted and data was collected from welders in Mysuru City, including noise exposure levels, perceived stress levels, insomnia prevalence, and demographic characteristics. The association between the number of years of noise exposure and auditory/non-auditory health effects was analysed. Participants' awareness of noise-induced health hazards and the use of protective equipment were also evaluated. Results: The study included male participants, predominantly below 30 years of age, with a majority (74.3%) belonging to the Muslim community. Decreased hearing (11.5%) and sleep disorders (3%) were reported by participants. About half (53.7%) were aware of noise-induced health hazards, with a high usage of safety glasses but limited use of earplugs. Most had exposure to noise for less than 5 years. Moderate levels of perceived stress and low prevalence of insomnia were observed. Significant associations were found between the number of years of noise exposure and both auditory/non-auditory health hazards, as well as between age category and auditory health effects. Conclusions: The study reveals the prevalence of noise-induced health hazards among welders in Mysuru City and highlights the importance of promoting occupational health and safety measures. Raising awareness and encouraging the use of protective measures are crucial to mitigate the adverse effects of noise exposure in the welding industry.

Informal welders' occupational safety and environmental health risks in northwestern Tanzania.

Often with minimal formal training and protections, informal welders face significant occupational health and safety (OSH) risks. This cross-sectional study of 219 adult informal welders at 70 informal welding sites in Mwanza City, Tanzania aimed to: 1) capture knowledge and awareness of occupational risks and safety precautions, training, and self-reported work-related injuries and illness and 2) observe worker use of personal protective equipment and site safety. We hypothesized that knowledge, awareness, and site inspections would improve use of PPE and that improved safety and site inspections would reduce self-reported injuries and illness. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to model all relationships. Robust standard error estimation was used to avoid overestimation of parameters. Having a post-secondary education (aβ = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.962, 1.061; p = 0. 0679), having training in OSH (aβ = 0.927, 95% CI: 0.872, 0.984, p = 0.014), increased knowledge of occupational risks (aβ = 1.305, 95% CI: 1.143, 1.491; p<0.001), and knowledge of safety measures (aβ = 1.112, 95% CI: 0.881, 1.404; p = 0.372) increased PPE use by 1%, 7.3%, 30.5%, and 11.2% respectively. Workers who used PPE were less likely to experience fire explosions (AOR = 0.149, 95% CI: 0.029, 0.751; p = 0.02), radiation exposure (AOR = 0.097, 95% CI: 0.016, 0.579, p = 0.01) or electric shocks (AOR = 0.012; 95% CI: 0.001, 0.11, p<0.001). Having increased knowledge of safety practices also decreased the odds of fire explosions (AOR = 0.075, 95% CI: 0.018, 0.314; p<0.001). Those with higher knowledge of occupational risk (aβ = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.404, 1.756; p<0.001) and safety measures (aβ = 1.628, 95% CI: 1.34, 1.978; p<0.001) were more likely to have more positive attitudes towards safety practices. Our findings suggest that comprehensive targeted interventions including increased knowledge of occupational risks, safety practices, and occupational health law through training, along with enforcement and inspection by government officials, would benefit the environmental and occupational health for informal welders.

Occupational health and safety knowledge, attitudes and practices among healthcare workers in Accra Ghana

BackgroundHealthcare workers operate in an environment, that in relation to exposure to biological hazards is considered to be a hazardous occupational setting, compared to other workers in other industries. This paper sought knowledge, attitude, and practices of Occupational Health Safety (OHS) among healthcare workers in Accra, Ghana. MethodsThe study was a cross-sectional design. A validated questionnaire which contained questions on risk assessment and safety practices, was used to obtain data from 365 respondents, who worked in 12 public healthcare facilities in Accra. ResultsAlmost all the respondents 95.9 % and 97.0 % respectively have a very high knowledge regarding occupational health and safety and of cross infection prevention with 69.9 % obtaining knowledge from occupational, health and safety training programs. However, this high knowledge was at variance with practice. Five critical issues reported relating to awareness vis a vis practical usage was: wearing gloves (99.4% vs. 94.0 %); regularly washing hands with bacterial agents (98.0% vs. 94.5 %); proper disposal of sharps (99.4% vs. 94.0 %); wearing of masks (97.7% vs. 86.3) and prophylactic treatment procedure after exposure (95.3% vs 55.6 %). Findings relating to respondents’ attitude towards Occupational Health & Safety in terms of agreements were as follows: all exposures to occupational hazards should be reported to and appropriately documented by appropriate authorities (97.8 %); importance of proper hand washing after every procedure or each contact with a patient (98.4 %); the necessity of personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of exposure to the occupational hazard (97.8 %) and wearing aprons and facemasks in procedures where splash/spill of blood and body fluids is likely (97.3 %). ConclusionThe respondents demonstrated a high level of knowledge of occupational hazards but this was not mostly translated into practice. Training courses, curricular and seminars as they relate to OHS should be intensified, and compliance in adhering to mitigation measures should be addressed. These findings are useful and will influence policy towards health and safety of workers at the workplace.

The Effect of Some Psychological Parameters and Occupational Health and Safety Practices on Occupational Accidents: Example of Women Textile Workers

Bu araştırmada kadın tekstil işçilerinin psikolojik sağlamlık, anksiyete, depresyon ve stres düzeyleri ile çalıştıkları atölyelerdeki iş sağlığı ve güvenliği uygulamalarının iş kazasıyla karşılaşma durumlarına etkisinin belirlenmesi amaçlandı. Tanımlayıcı ve kesitsel türdeki araştırmanın örneklemine, amaçlı örnekleme yöntemiyle seçilen, 9 tekstil atölyesinde çalışan toplam 447 kadın dahil edildi. Araştırma verileri, sosyodemografik bilgi formu, iş sağlığı ve güvenliğini (İSG) araştıran sorular, kısa psikolojik sağlamlık ölçeği ve Depresyon-Anksiyete-Stres (DAS-21) ölçeği kullanılarak toplandı. Katılımcıların 14.8’i son 12 ay içerisinde iş kazası geçirmişti. İş yerinde iş kazalarıyla ilgili düzenli raporlama ve kayıt tutma sistemi olanların olmayanlara göre, çalışma ortamı düzenli olarak temiz ve bakımlı tutulanların tutulmayanlara göre, iş yükü ve çalışma saatleri uygun düzeyde tutulanların tutulmayanlara göre ve işe yeni başlayanlara İSG eğitimi verilenlerin verilmeyenlere göre iş kazası geçirme durumu anlamlı düzeyde daha düşüktü. Psikolojik sağlamlık, anksiyete, depresyon ve stres düzeylerinin iş kazasıyla karşılaşma durumuna anlamlı etkisi tespit edilmedi. Tekstil atölyelerinde iş sağlığı ve güvenliği uygulamalarının yapılması iş kazalarını azaltmada önemli bir rol oynamaktadır.

Compliance with Standard Occupational Health and Safety Measures and Associated Factors Among Small-Scale Metal Industry Workers in Central Ethiopia.

Compliance with workplace health and safety measures can result in considerable reduction in workplace injuries and fatalities and attributed economic costs. However, majority of studies conducted in small-scale industries in numerous countries, including Ethiopia focused on the prevalence of occupational injuries and there is a paucity of evidence on level of employees' adherence to safety measures and the associated factors. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess workers' compliance and factors associated with occupational health and safety practices in small-scale metal industries in Central Ethiopia. This study was conducted in Central Ethiopia. A total of 415 small-scale metal workers were included in this study. Study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The collected data were entered using EPI Info version 7.2 and exported to IBM-SPSS Version 22 for further cleaning and analysis. Bivariate and multivariate Binary Logistic Regression were conducted to determine association and during the multivariable regression variables with a p-value <0.05 were considered significantly associated factors. The study found a 39.3% (95% CI: 34.7, 44.1) prevalence of good compliance with safety and health measures among small-scale metal workers. Temporary employed workers were less likely to adhere [AOR=0.43, 95% CI (0.21, 0.93)] and workers who received training were more likely to adhere [AOR=5.75, 95% CI (2.56, 12.9)] to safety precautions. Other significantly associated variables included work experience, working at night, and satisfaction with the current salary. This study sheds light on small-scale metal workers' commitment to workplace safety and health procedures, indicating a compliance rate of 39.3%, which is low. Temporary employees and less experienced workers are less likely to follow health and safety precautions. Workplace health and safety training are associated with increased safety precautions.

ANALYSING THE EFFECTS OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY APPLICATIONS: HEALTH SECTOR EXAMPLE

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of Digital Transformation (DT) on occupational health and safety practices in the healthcare sector. A survey was used to obtain the research data, and in the first part of this survey, "Demographic Questions" about the participants were included, in the second part, "Digital Transformation" scale and in the third part, "Occupational Health and Safety Practices Scale" questions were included. The population of the research was determined as the personnel working in public and private hospitals serving in Van. Research findings and recommendations were created by performing "Reliability", "Frequency", "Correlation", "Regression" and "ANOVA" analyzes on the data obtained from the surveys in the "SPSS 21" program. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that DTs in enterprises have a positive effect on occupational health and safety practices. In addition, it was determined that there was a statistical difference between demographic variables such as gender, age, educational status and length of service and DTs and occupational health and safety practices.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Needlesticks and Sharp Injuries Among Healthcare Workers of Hospital in Bule Hora, West Guji Zone, Ethiopia.

Healthcare workers face a significant risk of sharp and needle-stick injuries, which can increase the likelihood of spreading illnesses like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Currently, there is no available information on the prevalence or contributing factors of needle sticks and sharp injuries (NSSI) in hospitals in southern Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the needle sticks and sharp injuries among health care workers at the BHUTH, Southern Ethiopia. The study was a cross-sectional study conducted at an institution in October 2023, with 164 randomly selected participants. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather information on sociodemographic factors and exposure status. The data was entered and analyzed using Epi-Data and SPSS. The risk factors were identified by binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses. A P-value less than .05 was considered statistical significance. The overall prevalence of at least one Needle sticks and sharp injuries in the last 12 months was 46.4% (95% CI of 39.3% to 53.6%). The majority of injuries 45.8% were due to the syringe needle. Factors such as needle recap (AOR = 3.73, 95% CI: 1.07-12.19), Recapping with two hands (AOR = 2.78, 95% CI: 1.36-10.02), working 40 hours per week (AOR = 2.18, 95% CI: 0.98-6.86), and lack of training in occupational safety practices (AOR = 4.01, 95% CI: 2.60-9.91), were factors significantly associated with the prevalence of needle stick and sharp injuries. This study found that nearly half of the respondents experienced a sharp needle poke and injury at least once in the previous year; however, the volume of NSSI remains high in the study area. Healthcare workers should receive on-the-job training, and hospital executives should set aside time for discussions on how to solve the problem.

Needlesticks and sharp injuries and their associated factors among health care workers of Bule Hora University Teaching Hospital, Southern Ethiopia

BackgroundThis study assessed the prevalence and associated factors of needle sticks and sharp injuries among healthcare workers at the Bule Hora University Teaching Hospital, Southern Ethiopia from December 1 to 30, 2023. MethodsA self-administered questionnaire was used to gather information on sociodemographic factors and exposure status. Epi-Data and SPSS were used to enter and analyze data. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistical significance. ResultsIn this study, the prevalence of at least one Needlesticks and sharp injuries in the last 12 months was 46.4 % (95 % CI: 39.3 %-53.6 %). Of most needlesticks and sharp injuries, 47.2 % were superficial skin injuries. The majority of injuries 45.8 % were due to the syringe needle. Factors such as needle recap (AOR=3.73, 95 % CI: 1.07–12.19), Recapping with two hands (AOR=2.78, 95 % CI: 1.36–10.02), working 40 h per week (AOR=2.18, 95 % CI: 0.98–6.86), lack of training in occupational safety practices (AOR=4.01, 95 % CI: 2.60–9.91), and lack of job satisfaction were factors significantly associated with the prevalence of needlesticks and sharp injuries. ConclusionThis study found that nearly half of the respondents experienced a sharp needle poke and injury at least once in the previous year; however, the volume of NSSI remains high in the study area. Healthcare personnel should receive on-the-job training, and hospital executives should set aside time for discussions on how to solve the problem.

“Fostering Employee Well-Being: The Role of Occupational Safety and Health in Modern Working Policies”

In today’s rapidly evolving work environments, effectively addressing employee well-being through strategic working policies and robust Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) practices has become increasingly crucial. Hence, this study explores the impact of working policies and OSH practices on employee well-being, aiming to understand how these factors contribute to job satisfaction, stress reduction, and overall health. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey design, the research involved 200 employees from various sectors in Malaysia, selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected via an online survey, which included validated questionnaires to assess working policies, OSH practices, and employee well-being. The analysis, performed using SPSS, employed descriptive and inferential statistics to examine the relationships among these variables. The findings reveal that effective working policies, such as flexible work arrangements, and comprehensive OSH practices directly enhance employee well-being by reducing stress and preventing injuries. Moreover, working policies moderate the relationship between OSH practices and employee well-being, especially in remote and hybrid work settings. Employee well-being also mediates the impact of working policies on organizational productivity, suggesting that healthier employees contribute to better organizational performance. The study highlighting the importance of integrating supportive work environments and safety measures to improve employee outcomes. The implications of these findings are significant for organizations aiming to enhance employee satisfaction and productivity. By prioritizing flexible working policies and comprehensive OSH practices, organizations can foster a more supportive work environment. However, the study’s limitations, including its cross-sectional design and sample size, indicate the need for future research to explore these relationships longitudinally and across diverse contexts. This study contributes valuable insights for both researchers and practitioners committed to optimizing work environments for better employee well-being.