Publication:

Compliance with occupational safety and health practice among medical laboratory staff at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi city county, Kenya

Background This study sought to assess compliance with occupational safety and health among medical laboratory workers in Kenyatta national hospital in Nairobi city county, Kenya. The study focused on potential hazards, occupational safety and health compliance and health system factors associated with compliance to occupational safety and health among medical laboratory workers.

Methods The study used analytical cross-sectional design. The study used a sample size of 148 respondents. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interview schedules. Descriptive data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences version 25.0 with the aid of Microsoft excel program to generate frequency tables. The study employed chi-square tests to establish the association between study variables.

Results The findings showed that there was association between years worked and exposure to biological hazards (χ2 (1) = 4.167, p<0.05) respectively. There was no association with age, (χ2 (2) = 8.001, p<0.05), education level, (χ2 (1) = 8.06, p<0.05) and years worked (χ2 (2) = 9.248, p<0.05) and exposure to physical hazards. Staff workload was significant factor influencing compliance (χ² = 155.376, p<0.001), and significant relationship between the provision of personal protective equipment and occupational safety and health compliance (χ² = 155.030, p<0.001).

Conclusions The hospital has made significant efforts in implementing various health and safety programs which can be adopted across different departments. This includes programs such as safety audit, safety trainings and occupational health surveillance.