Occupational Safety Practices in Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers face a diverse array of occupational hazards that can compromise their safety and well-being. Biological exposures, notably needlestick injuries and contact with bloodborne pathogens, represent a persistent risk in clinical environments. Physical and ergonomic hazards, including musculoskeletal strain from patient handling and repetitive tasks, compound the threat to worker health. Chemical exposures to anaesthetic gases, disinfectants and pharmaceutical agents introduce additional layers of complexity, while psychosocial stressors – such as shift work and high patient acuity – can undermine adherence to safety protocols. In response, a multifaceted approach is adopted, combining engineering controls (for example, safety-engineered sharps devices), administrative measures (such as incident-reporting systems and staff rotation) and personal protective equipment (gloves, masks and gowns) to mitigate risks. Standard precautions form the cornerstone of safe practise, complemented by targeted training in infection prevention, ergonomic techniques and psychological resilience. Despite advancements in equipment and guidelines, gaps persist in implementation, particularly in resource-limited settings, underscoring the need for continuous monitoring, behaviour-change strategies and policy support to safeguard health professionals globally.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have elucidated patterns of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens and the factors influencing post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) uptake among healthcare staff. A cross-sectional investigation at an urban referral centre revealed that over 40% of practitioners experienced percutaneous exposures during their careers, yet less than one in five completed PEP regimens following an incident. Educational level and prior infection-prevention training emerged as protective factors against exposure, while availability of prophylaxis in the facility and years of service were positively correlated with PEP utilisation. The findings highlight critical gaps in both prevention and response, advocating for enhanced training, uninterrupted access to prophylactic treatments and streamlined incident-reporting pathways to reduce occupational transmission risks.

Occupational Safety Practices in Healthcare Workers publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in occupational safety practices in healthcare workers across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Needlestick injury: A percutaneous puncture wound caused by a needle or other sharp object potentially contaminated with blood or body fluids.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): A medical regimen initiated after potential exposure to a pathogen to prevent infection, such as antiretroviral therapy following HIV exposure.

Personal protective equipment (PPE): Clothing and devices (e.g. gloves, masks, gowns) worn by healthcare workers to shield against exposure to hazards.

Standard precautions: A set of infection-prevention guidelines that assume all blood and body fluids are potentially infectious, guiding consistent use of barrier protection and hygiene practices.

References

1. Occupational exposure to HIV and utilization of post-exposure prophylaxis among healthcare workers at St. Peter’s specialized hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Scientific Reports (2023).
2. Worldwide Prevalence of Occupational Exposure to Needle Stick Injury among Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis. Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology (2021).
3. Occupational post‐exposure prophylaxis among healthcare workers: a scoping review of factors affecting optimal utilization. Journal of the International AIDS Society (2024).
4. Occupational health and safety knowledge, attitudes and practices among healthcare workers in Accra Ghana. Scientific African (2024).