Performance of Laboratory Workers Regarding Occupational Health Hazards and Safety Measures at Hospitals in Ismailia City

Mohamed  Abd-Elrhman, Reham; Kamel Yousef, Farida; Mohammed Abdel-KaderAlngery, Samar; Galal Fathy, Ebtehal

doi:10.21608/tnhcj.2024.399045

Performance of Laboratory Workers Regarding Occupational Health Hazards and Safety Measures at Hospitals in Ismailia City

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Nursing specialist, 30th June International Center for Dialysis and Urology,

² Assist. Professor of Family and Community Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Suez Canal University, Egypt.

³ Lecturer of Family and Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Suez Canal University, Egypt

⁴ Lecturer of Family and Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Suez Canal University.

10.21608/tnhcj.2024.399045

Abstract

Background: Laboratory workers are constantly subjected to health risks occasioned by their exposure to a wide range of biological, chemical, and physical occupational hazards. These exposures to occupational hazards arise in the manner the laboratory workers handle and use substances during their routine work . Aim : This study aimed to examine the performance of laboratory workers regarding occupational health hazards and safety measures at hospitals in Ismailia city. A descriptive cross-sectional design was utilized .Sample :convenience sample of 151 laboratory workers who were selected at hospitals in Ismailia city. Tools : two tools used in current study tool I-self-administer questionnaire included three parts. a-socio demographic data , b-knowledge of laboratory workers about occupational hazards, c- Attitude scale of laboratory workers about occupational hazards in the laboratory. Tool II observational checklist for general laboratory environment and reported practice among laboratory workers. Results: revealed that the knowledge level of the laboratory workers regarding occupational health hazard and safety measures, it was clarified that 55.6% of them had a good level of knowledge, 64.9% of laboratory workers had a positive attitude toward occupational hazards. There was statistical significance between demographic characteristics and practice among laboratory workers, (P<0.05). Conclusion: more than half of the laboratory workers had a good level of knowledge regarding occupational health hazards and safety measures, two-thirds of them had a positive attitude toward occupational hazards in the laboratory and almost half of them had a fair level of practice. Additionally, nearly three-quarters of the selected settings had good levels of occupational safety measures. Recommendation: conduct development program for the laboratory workers to assessment, identification, evaluation activities and the risks from health hazards .