Determination of Laboratory Employees Perception On Occupational Risk Factors

Abstract

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Laboratory employees' perception of occupational risk factorsL aboratories can be a source of risk to employee health and safety. Safe working conditions are necessary for healthcare staff to remain healthy and provide good services [1]. Employees in hospitals and healthcare institutions face several sources of risk, including physical, chemical, biological, psychological, and ergonomic factors [2][3]. Physical risk factors include noise, vibration, ventilation, dust, radiation, and improper electrical systems. Laboratory workers may be exposed to toxic, allergic, carcinogenic, or harmful effects of numerous chemicals (such as reagents, disinfectants, drugs, or anesthetics). Blood, tissue, or body fluid samples, as well as medical waste, pose a potential biological risk and represent the most important foci of infection for laboratory workers [4]. An individual's subjective judgment about the characteristics and severity of risks that could threaten their safety is defined as risk perception. A high level of risk perception generally indicates greater practice of safe behaviors [5]. The sensitivity of laboratory workers to work environment risks may differ according to demographic features. The present study examined the occupational risk perception of laboratory workers related to health problems arising from work environment risks and analyzed the effect of demographic characteristics and views on the work environment. This study was designed to provide laboratory managers with measures to be implemented to mitigate work environment risks and encourage safe behavior.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the understanding and views of hospital laboratory workers related to risk factors in their work environment. Methods: This quantitative analysis included 234 laboratory employees in a university hospital. The data were obtained using a survey consisting of 19 questions: 8 items solicited demographic characteristics of the respondents, 3 questions determined their observations about the work environment, and 8 questions asked about occupational risk perception. Risk perception was evaluated using a scale designed specifically for laboratory employees. Frequency, percentages, and averages were used to present descriptive data. A t-test and analysis of variance were used to analyze occupational risk perception according to participant characteristics and responses. Results: A total of 162 women and 72 men (mean age: 40-49 years) participated in the study. The most common health problem observed was lower extremity pain. The occupational risk perception level was found to be above average (3.13±0.68). There was a statistically significant difference between the occupational risk perception score and the length of employment in the unit (p<0.05); however, no statistical significance was found between occupational risk perception and other variables (gender, age, field of work, education, or length of ove...

Chemical risk assessment in hospital settings: A comparison of workers' perceptions, expert opinions, and occupational hygiene measurements

“…Experience and knowledge in a particular field may affect a person's risk perception. The study conducted by Boyacı et al [28] examined the risk perception of laboratory workers in a hospital and found a significant relationship between the perception of risk and the length of time employed in the department. The highest risk perception was found in workers with 11-16 years of experience [28].…”