Exposure to Occupational Health Hazards among Clinical and Non Clinical Staff at the 37 Military Hospital

ABSTRACT

The specific objective of the study was to evaluate exposure to occupational health hazards among clinical and non-clinical staffs at the 37 Military Hospital. The study design was cross sectional. A sample size of fifty (50) respondents was selected for the study. The main instrument for the study was a questionnaire. The results of the study revealed that, infection through fluids (92.0%), infection through the skin (82.0%), exposure to viruses (80.0%), infection through droplets aerosols (78.0%), infection through air-borne diseases (76.0%) and ergonomic exposure (46.0%) were health hazards encountered at the 37 military hospital. The findings further revealed that, effects of health hazards among clinical and non-clinical staff were infections (92.0%), sick leave (88.0%), absenteeism (86.0%), low performance (80.0%), acute stress disorder (76.0%), depression and death (76.0%). The study further revealed that proper disposal of waste, proper placement of medical equipment (56.0%), regular monitoring of safety and health standards (44.0%), wearing of protective cloths (42.0%), reporting of accidents and injuries (76.0%) and regular safety and health practice training (52.0%) among the clinical and non clinical staff at 37 Military hospital, were effective measures that helped control and prevent health hazards faced by the hospital. The study recommended that hospital authorities should provide safety wares to prevent staff from coming in contact with contaminated substances.