Investigation of Occupational Accidents Health Workers in Nursing Services Are Exposed To

Abstract

Introduction: In this study, occupational accidents experienced by health personnel (nurses, midwives, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, operating room technicians, assistant health technicians and care support personnel) working in the nursing services of our hospital between 2013-2018 were investigated.

Materials and Methods: This study was carried out retrospectively. Three hundred and seventy-four occupational accident forms of health personnel (nurses, midwives, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, operating room technicians, assistant health technicians and care support personnel) reported to the nursing services were evaluated. The data were categorized according to age, sex, title and unit, working year, accident, date and time of the accident. Descriptive statistics (number, percentage, median, mean, standard deviation) and chi-square test were used in the evaluation of the data.

Results: It was determined that 84.2% of the health personnel who reported occupational accidents were females, 46.9% were in the 18-25 age group, and 93.1% were high school, associate degree and university graduates. The majority of health personnel were nurses (69.5%), approximately half (47.8%) of the health workers reporting accidents were working in surgical units and intensive care units, 77.0% had been working for 5 years or less, and the occupational accident rate was the highest in 2017 (37.2%). When occupational accident reports were examined, it was found that there was no seasonal feature and the frequency of occupational accidents was higher in 08:00-20:00 shifts (67.9%). Considering the classification of occupational accidents, it was found that 53.2% of these injuries were caused by needlestick and sharp injuries, 33.7% by physical risks damaging musculoskeletal system and 13.1% by biological risks due to blood and body fluids exposure. It was found that the highest number of occupational accidents occurred during treatment (34.7%) and 49.7% were caused by needlestick.

Conclusion: It was determined that the health personnel working in surgical areas have a higher risk of occupational accidents. Approximately half of the occupational accidents occurred frequently during treatment due to needlestick and consequently, needlestick and sharp injuries took the first place. It is necessary to identify situations that threaten employee health, develop policies aiming to prevent occupational accidents and take preventive measures to prevent infection risk due to needlestick and sharp injuries and biological risks in terms of employee health.