Assessment of Occupational Safety and Health Awareness and Practices in Public Health Facilities Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

Occupational health and safety is disciplinary area which is concerned with the protection and safety, health as well as the welfare of people engaged in any kind of work or employment. The study aimed at assessing the occupational health and safety awareness and practices among the health care workers in public healthcare facilities in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design which targeted 191 public health facilities workers from 6 sub county hospitals and Uasin Gishu County referral hospital. The study adopted a purposive sampling and simple random sampling techniques. Questionnaires were used as the main data collection instrument. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics; means, frequencies and percentages and inferential analysis of correlation. From the study it was concluded that 84% the respondents were aware of the existence of the occupational Health and safety program, although there is still need to create awareness amongst the significant proportion of the respondents who were not aware, 88% agreed that guidelines on occupational health and safety precautionary principles were available in their facilities. The study found out that there is a significant relationship between OSH awareness and practices such as change of gloves, hand washing, immunization againsttyphoid and Hgd, reporting occurrences of accidents and use of PPEs. The study recommends that ministry of health should make specialist training in occupational safety and health for their staff, they should ensure provisions of this policy and technicalguidelines apply to all health institutions and administrative units within the health sector. Further hospital Management should put in place a regular monitoring team who will ensure that employees observe in strict terms safety measures put in place inorder to avoid any mishaps and accidents. Lastly the study suggests that further research on the factors determining the implementation of occupational health and safety awareness and practices at public health care facilities in Uasin Gishu, County, Kenya