Occupational Health Hazards and Control Measures in Government Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Nurses' and Nurse Managers' Perspectives

Abstract

Background: Healthcare environments expose workers and patients to hazardous substances, leading to sickness and death. Nurses play a critical role in maintaining patient health and managing occupational risks, including biological, physical, chemical, and psychological hazards, highlighting the need for significant commitment. This study aims to explore the occupational health hazards and control measures among nurses and nurse managers in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 222 nurses and nurse managers in Northern Border Hospitals. A Google survey questionnaire was utilized for capturing data, including demographic information, occupational health hazards, and control measures. Results: Of the 222 nurses surveyed, 20.3% experienced high ergonomic hazards, 14.4% experienced physical hazards, 14.9% experienced chemical hazards, 17.1% experienced biological hazards, and 34.2% experienced moderate psychological hazards. Regarding safety measures, 86.0% of participants reported high levels of control, 80.6% took proactive safety precautions, and 87.8% adhered to comprehensive control measures. There was little correlation between demographic characteristics, occupational hazards, and control measures. A significant negative association was found between control measures and occupational hazards (p value ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: Nurses face a range of occupational hazards, including ergonomic, physical, chemical, biological, and psychological risks. Addressing these hazards is essential for the well-being of nurses, the quality of patient care, and the creation of a healthier work environment. While control measures are generally effective, some healthcare workers lack access to adequate safety protocols. The results indicated a negative correlation between exposure to occupational health hazards and the implementation of control measures.

Keywords: control measures; nurse managers; nurses; occupational health hazards; work environment.