Occupational hazard exposure amongst health workers at Letaba Hospital, Mopani District, Limpopo Province

Abstract

Background Health care facilities are characterised by a high level of exposure to hazardous agents, which significantly endanger the health and life of workers. Occupational hazards, exposure to blood and body fluids accidents and safety precautions constitute an important public health issue. Occupational health is the identification and control of risks arising from physical, chemical, and other workplace hazards in order to establish and maintain a safe and healthy working environment. The high occurrence and burden of occupational hazards in hospitals include sharps/needlestick injuries, contact with blood and body fluids, blood-borne infections, and accidents. Health workers at Letaba Hospital are facing occupational health and safety risk at their workplace. Objectives The objectives of the study were to identify the type of work and related hazards that health workers are exposed to at Letaba Hospital and to find out if health workers at Letaba Hospital are aware of the occupational hazards at the workplace. Methods A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional method was used. The population comprised 649 nurses, doctors, cleaners, kitchen workers, laboratory technicians and laboratory technologists employed at Letaba Hospital. Stratified random sampling was used to select 374 health workers who participated in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Results The study showed that health works, particularly nurses and doctors and nurses are exposed to needle pricks and kitchen workers are exposed to sharps. Cleaners and porters are exposed to slippery floors as well as uneven floors. Laboratory technicians, laboratory technologists and porters are exposed to specimen containers. Health vi workers lack knowledge on the toxic gases available at the hospital. The study also revealed that health workers are aware of the risk of using uneven floors and the risk of using stairs/steps at their workplace. Conclusion The study concluded that health workers at Letaba Hospital experienced physical, biological, chemical as well as psychosocial hazards at their workplace. Keywords Occupational hazards, health workers and occupational health.