Background Of The Study
Infections and diseases are one of the most significant issues that might arise in any work, wherever in the globe. It is one of the most significant contributors to morbidity and death that may be attributed to clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures (BhatShandadi, 2009). As they go about their injuries, workers who work in healthcare or other infections have a significant chance of becoming hurt or contracting a work, as well as being exposed to blood-borne viruses (Dentinger et al, 2014). They are put at risk for blood-borne infections due to the presence of microorganisms, sharp injuries, and interaction with other people. According to an estimate provided by the Globe Health Organization (Okojie et al, 2009), there were more than 16000 occupational hazards in the world that caused injuries in the year 2002. The danger of harm is increased by recapping and disassembly, as well as by failing to take proper health and safety measures. The biggest number of workplace injuries are reported in developing nations, which also have the highest rate of workplace injuries overall. In addition to this, it was found that occupational injuries were the most prevalent occupational health hazard in a Nigerian work (Araoye, 2008). Universal precautions are one of the tactics that have been suggested as part of the interventional procedures that have been offered to prevent the exposure of healthcare workers to potential health dangers and infectious diseases (Delclos et al, 2013). In 1983, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States produced a statement that suggested using occupational precautions while at work (Delclos et al, 2013). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a recommendation in 1987 stating that all workers, regardless of their level, were required to rigidly and continuously adhere to occupational precautions (Delclos et al, 2013). These measures include a collection of precautions that were designed to prevent the transmission of all known air-borne pathogens, blood-borne pathogens, and general work accidents while they are working on the cause of the work (Kermode, 2011). In 1996, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) incorporated the universal precautions into a new concept for disease prevention known as "safety precautions." The "safety precautions," which are designed to be followed by all workers or staff in workplaces regardless of their location of work, work level, or position, are referred to as "safety precautions" (Tadese et al, 2009). When working with work equipment and devices that are contaminated or suspected of contamination, as well as in situations where there is a risk of coming into contact with contaminated surfaces, it is important for all workers, regardless of their presumed work level, to follow the "safety precautions" that are recommended for them (Cutter & Jordan, 2004). Hand washing, the use of barriers (such as gloves, gowns, caps, and masks), care with devices, equipment, and clothing used during care, environmental control (such as surface processing protocols, health service waste handling), adequate discarding of sharp instruments, including needles, and patient accommodation in accordance with requirement levels are all examples of safety precautions that should be taken in the work (Danchaivijitr, 2015). Another crucial step is receiving the appropriate vaccinations from a medical practitioner, since this ensures that the patient will be protected against diseases that can be prevented with immunity.
It is possible for there to be variations in the amount of adherence to universal precautions among the various types of healthcare workers. There may be a correlation between the varied types of training that healthcare workers get and the variations in their awareness of universal precautions. According to the findings of a number of studies conducted on a variety of healthcare workers, the proportion of those workers who were exposed to potentially hazardous substances, environments, or items was roughly 9.3%. (Oliveira, Marziale, Paiva, & Lopes, 2013). A research that was carried out in the same manner in Ibadan discovered a higher exposure rate of 25.1%. The failure of healthcare workers to adhere to the fundamental principles of universal precautions may be attributed to a number of different variables, ranging from the individual to the organizational level. Education on universal precautions and awareness has not been widely implemented among healthcare workers, especially in underdeveloped nations (Kessler & Heeren, 2017). It has been advised that everyone take safety measures when they are working, as stated in the most current guideline that was produced by the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) in the year 2007. Hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment, and instrument handling are all included in these safety measures. However, this list is not exhaustive. The compliance with safety measures among healthcare workers has been documented to be unsatisfactory in a number of studies. This includes the use of eye and nose protection, glove usage when necessary, washing hands, and the use of face masks (Adinma 2009, Twitchell, 2003, Adams, 2003, and Makarawo, 2003). According to the research, major reported factors that affect compliance with safety precautions include, but are not limited to, a lack of understanding and knowledge among healthcare workers on occupational safety precautions, a shortage of time to implement the precautions (work overload), limited resources, a lack of proper training, uncomfortable equipment, skin irritation, forgetfulness, distance from the necessary facilities, and insufficient support from management in creating a culture of compliance. Other major reported factors that affect compliance with safety precautions include: a lack of understanding and knowledge among (Adinma 2009, Twitchell, 2003, Adams, 2003, and Makarawo, 2003). In addition, compliance with occupational safety procedures was shown to be connected with a number of socio-demographic factors, including age, gender, job type, marital status, working location within the hospital, and years of work experience. These factors include: Interventions that have been tried in other nations to increase the compliance of healthcare workers with occupational safety and health precautions include, but are not limited to, pre-service training by including occupational safety and health precautions in educational curricula, in-service training on occupational safety precautions beyond the ordinary level, and the availability of personal protective equipment.
1.2 Statement Of The Problem
The need of implementing occupational safety hazards or infection control measures in places of employment is a direct result of the imperative to eliminate the risk of contracting a disease or being exposed to a hazard that is related with work. It is possible to define occupational hazards or infections as an infection or hazard that occurs to a worker while that person is engaged in the course of his or her employment (Gbefwi, 2004). It is a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality in both rich nations and those with limited access to resources. It is estimated that up to 19% of employees in poor nations are affected by occupational hazards or infections. The incidence of occupational hazards is considerably greater in developing countries (McGrowder et al, 2010). Even though there is a lack of data in sub-Saharan Africa, occupational hazards and infections continue to be a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in developing countries. This is especially true in countries where occupational safety practices are inadequate, which results in relatively higher rates of work-related infections (Motamed, et al, 2006). It has become vital to deploy occupational safety, infection or hazard control measures in order to minimize morbidity and mortality that is associated with occupational hazards or infections in order to combat this threat. These methods are intended to do this. Safety guidelines that include a variety of evidence-based care components have been outlined to ensure global safety among healthcare workers for effective occupational infection control. This is particularly important in Nigeria, where work-related hazards or infections have been on the rise in recent years (Nasidi et al, 2011). In view of the aforementioned, the purpose of this research is to determine the level of danger to employees' health and safety at LUTH in Idi Araba.
1.3 Objectives Of The Study
The overall aim of this study is to critically assess occupational health and safety risk in LUTH, Idi Araba. Hence, the study will be channeled to the following specific objectives;
1.4 Research Questions
The study will be guided by the following questions;
1.5 Significance Of The Study
Workers in the health care industry, particularly physicians, nurses, pharmacists, technicians, laboratory scientists, technicians, and technologist, health attendants/assistants, and other para-medical officers, will benefit from the information that was uncovered by the study on occupational hazards because it will help them become more aware of the hazards that are present in their place of employment. For example, some medications have the potential to be poisonous; certain disinfectants may be caustic; allergic contact dermatitis; possible impacts of chemicals that take longer to manifest; and deteriorating building structures. Because of this knowledge, they will become more alert to the existence of hazards, with the intention of respecting the appropriate safety norms in order to protect themselves.
Additionally, it will be used as a literature review by scholars who come after them. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Specifically, this means that they will be able to use it as a resource to determine whether or not to conduct their own studies. Inevitably, the findings of the research provide a major contribution to the existing body of occupational knowledge on the dangers posed to employees' health and safety on the job at LUTH, Idi Araba.
1.6 Scope Of The Study
This study is structured to generally assess occupational health and safety risk in LUTH, Idi Araba occupational health and safety risk in LUTH, Idi Araba. However, the study will further identify the occupational health and safety risk issues in LUTH, Idi Araba, examine the extent to which healthcare workers comply with the occupational safety practices in healthcare centers, and the factors affecting occupational safety promotion practices in healthcare centers. The respondents for this study will be obtained from LUTH, Idi Araba, Lagos State.
1.7 Limitation Of The Study
Like in every human endeavour, the researcher encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size. More so, the researcher simultaneously engaged in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.
Moreover, the case study method utilized in the study posed some challenges to the investigator including the possibility of biases and poor judgment of issues. However, the investigator relied on respect for the general principles of procedures, justice, fairness, objectivity in observation and recording, and weighing of evidence to overcome the challenges.
1.8 Definition Of Terms
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY MANAGEMENT: This is an area concerned with protecting the safety of people engaged at work effectively.
SAFETY: It is the state of being certain that adverse effect will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions.
SAFETY CULTURE: This is an organization’s norms, beliefs, roles, attitude and practices concerned with minimizing exposure of employees to workplace hazards.
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