1.1 Introduction
Occupational safety awareness refers to the knowledge and understanding workers have of workplace hazards and the measures required to prevent injuries, infections, and other work-related illnesses. Among healthcare workers, it involves understanding safe patient care, proper handwashing, correct use of personal protective equipment, safe handling of needles, and proper disposal of medical waste. The World Health Organization reported that occupational health and safety programmes help prevent work-related injuries and illnesses while improving the quality and safety of healthcare services (WHO, 2022). Primary healthcare facilities provide essential services such as immunisation, maternal and child healthcare, treatment of common illnesses, health education, and disease prevention. Healthcare workers in these facilities include nurses, community health extension workers, laboratory personnel, midwives, and other staff involved in patient care.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the aim and objectives of the study. Others are significance of the study, scope of work, research hypothesis and questions, limitation of the study and definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Historically, occupational safety in healthcare developed from the recognition that people providing medical care were exposed to infectious diseases and other workplace hazards. In earlier healthcare settings, protective measures were often limited, and the importance of systematic infection prevention was not fully understood. As medical knowledge improved, greater attention was given to hand hygiene, sterilisation, safe handling of medical instruments, and the prevention of infections among patients and healthcare workers. The development of infection control practices contributed to the introduction of more organised safety procedures in healthcare facilities. The discovery of bloodborne infections and the recognition of risks associated with contaminated needles strengthened the need for safer injection practices, appropriate protective equipment, and proper waste disposal. The World Health Organization documented the serious health consequences associated with sharps injuries among healthcare workers and described methods for assessing and preventing related infections (WHO, 2005).
The World Health Organization (2022) reported that healthcare workers face biological, chemical, physical, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards during their daily duties. Biological hazards include exposure to infectious diseases, while chemical hazards arise from cleaning agents, disinfectants, and laboratory substances. Physical and ergonomic hazards include slips, falls, and injuries associated with lifting or moving patients. Psychosocial hazards include workplace violence, excessive workload, and stress. Similarly, the World Health Organization (2021) identified occupational infections as a major concern in the health sector, particularly infections associated with tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and respiratory diseases. Healthcare workers who handle contaminated needles or other sharp instruments face risks of injury and infection.
The International Labour Organization and World Health Organization (2022) reported that effective occupational health and safety programmes require commitment from governments, healthcare employers, managers, and workers. Such programmes include staff training, workplace risk assessment, access to protective equipment, incident reporting, and regular monitoring of safety procedures. In the same vein, occupational safety awareness is connected to the availability of essential supplies and the conditions under which healthcare workers perform their duties. A worker who understands the importance of gloves, face masks, protective clothing, and sharps containers still requires access to these materials to follow recommended procedures consistently. Likewise, knowledge of hand hygiene is more useful when clean water, soap, and suitable hand hygiene facilities are available.
The Nigerian healthcare system requires attention to occupational safety at facility level. Primary healthcare facilities operate in different environments and face varying demands relating to staffing, funding, equipment, water supply, waste disposal, and staff development. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (2020) provides a national policy framework for occupational safety and health in Nigeria. The WHO and International Labour Organization (2022) stated that protecting health workers requires sustained investment, training, monitoring, and cooperation among relevant stakeholders. Safety measures are not limited to the provision of protective equipment. They also involve establishing reporting procedures, maintaining equipment, ensuring proper ventilation, preventing workplace violence, and providing appropriate responses to occupational injuries. These measures are relevant to primary healthcare facilities because a weakness in one area, such as inadequate sharps disposal, can expose several categories of workers to danger.
This study is set against the backdrop of the need to protect healthcare workers from preventable occupational injuries and infections while supporting safe and effective service delivery in primary healthcare facilities.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that occupational safety remains an important concern in primary healthcare facilities because healthcare workers are exposed to hazards such as needle-stick injuries, infectious diseases, chemical substances, and improper waste disposal. On the other hand, inadequate knowledge of safety procedures and improper handling of medical instruments increase the risk of injuries and infections among workers.
Furthermore, some primary healthcare facilities experience problems with safety training, waste management, equipment maintenance, and compliance with infection prevention guidelines. These problems are potentially harmful to both healthcare workers and patients, particularly when used needles, contaminated materials, and other medical waste are not handled properly. It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to assess occupational safety awareness among healthcare workers in primary healthcare facilities.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of this study is to assess occupational safety awareness among healthcare workers in primary healthcare facilities. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To assess healthcare workers' knowledge of occupational hazards in primary healthcare facilities.
- To examine the safety practices followed by healthcare workers during their daily duties.
- To determine the availability and use of personal protective equipment among healthcare workers.
- To assess the relationship between safety training and occupational safety awareness among healthcare workers.
- To identify the challenges affecting compliance with occupational safety procedures in primary healthcare facilities.
1.5 Research Questions
The following research questions are based on the stated objectives:
- What is the level of healthcare workers' knowledge of occupational hazards in primary healthcare facilities?
- What safety practices do healthcare workers follow during their daily duties?
- To what extent are personal protective equipment and related safety materials available and used by healthcare workers?
- What relationship exists between safety training and occupational safety awareness among healthcare workers?
- What challenges affect compliance with occupational safety procedures in primary healthcare facilities?
1.6 Research Hypotheses
The following null and alternate hypotheses are proposed for statistical testing.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no statistically significant relationship between healthcare workers' knowledge of occupational hazards and their occupational safety awareness.
- H1: There is a statistically significant relationship between healthcare workers' knowledge of occupational hazards and their occupational safety awareness.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There is no statistically significant relationship between healthcare workers' occupational safety awareness and their adherence to recommended safety practices.
- H1: There is a statistically significant relationship between healthcare workers' occupational safety awareness and their adherence to recommended safety practices.
Hypothesis Three
- H0: There is no statistically significant relationship between the availability of personal protective equipment and healthcare workers' adherence to occupational safety procedures.
- H1: There is a statistically significant relationship between the availability of personal protective equipment and healthcare workers' adherence to occupational safety procedures.
Hypothesis Four
- H0: There is no statistically significant relationship between safety training and occupational safety awareness among healthcare workers.
- H1: There is a statistically significant relationship between safety training and occupational safety awareness among healthcare workers.
Hypothesis Five
- H0: Workplace challenges have no statistically significant relationship with healthcare workers' compliance with occupational safety procedures.
- H1: Workplace challenges have a statistically significant relationship with healthcare workers' compliance with occupational safety procedures.
1.7 Significance of Study
The outcome of this research will provide information on healthcare workers' knowledge of workplace hazards and the safety procedures used in primary healthcare facilities. The findings will also help identify areas where additional safety education is required.
Furthermore, the study will provide healthcare facility managers with information on workers' use of protective equipment, compliance with safety procedures, and challenges affecting safe work practices.
Lastly, the study will serve as a reference for academic work on occupational safety awareness, infection prevention, and healthcare workplace conditions.
1.8 Scope of Study
This study focuses on occupational safety awareness among healthcare workers in selected primary healthcare facilities in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. It covers healthcare workers' knowledge of occupational hazards, their safety practices, the availability and use of personal protective equipment, the role of safety training, and the challenges affecting compliance with safety procedures.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:
- Delay from Respondents: Some healthcare workers were occupied with patient care and other official duties, which delayed questionnaire completion and collection.
- Financial Constraints: Limited funds restricted the resources available for transportation, printing questionnaires, and visiting selected healthcare facilities.
- Time Constraints: The period available for the research limited the number of facilities that could be visited and the time allocated to collecting and analysing data.
1.10 Definition of Terms
Occupational Safety:
Occupational safety refers to the measures used to prevent workplace injuries, accidents, and other forms of harm. In this study, it refers to the procedures and precautions used to protect healthcare workers from hazards encountered during their duties (World Health Organization [WHO], 2022).
Safety Awareness:
Safety awareness refers to a person's knowledge and understanding of workplace hazards and the precautions required to prevent harm. In this study, it refers to healthcare workers' understanding of occupational risks and the procedures required to work safely.
Healthcare Workers:
Healthcare workers are people involved in providing healthcare services, including nurses, midwives, community health extension workers, laboratory personnel, and other clinical or support staff. In this study, the term refers to workers employed in the selected primary healthcare facilities.
Primary Healthcare Facilities:
Primary healthcare facilities are healthcare centres that provide essential first-contact health services, including disease prevention, health education, immunisation, maternal care, and treatment of common illnesses. In this study, the term refers to the selected facilities in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State.
Occupational Hazards:
Occupational hazards are conditions, substances, or activities in the workplace that have the potential to cause injury, illness, or other harm. In healthcare facilities, examples include contaminated needles, infectious materials, hazardous chemicals, slips, and unsafe patient handling (WHO, 2022).
Personal Protective Equipment:
Personal protective equipment refers to items worn or used by workers to reduce exposure to workplace hazards. Examples include gloves, face masks, protective gowns, goggles, and face shields. In this study, it refers to the protective materials available to healthcare workers for carrying out their duties safely (WHO, 2022).
Infection Prevention and Control:
Infection prevention and control refers to the procedures used to prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings. These procedures include hand hygiene, safe injection practices, sterilisation, appropriate protective equipment, and proper disposal of contaminated materials (WHO, 2022).
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