Volume : 2, Issue : 3, March - 2013

Working Environment and Occupational hazards in class IV employees in tertiary care hospital, Mumbai

Dr Gore H, Dr Ashok D, Dr Kembhavi, Dr Singru Samir, Dr. Gore Vaishali, Dr Pandve H

Abstract :

Background: Hospital is an institution meant to ensure community health. Hospitals that are considered a very safe place are not really safe. Aims: To assess the working conditions, health problems and occupational hazards of class IV employees Setting: Tertiary care teaching hospital Mumbai, India, Designs: Cross–sectional study Methods and materials: Stratified random sampling ttchnique was used. Detail history and medical examination was carried out at their respective work place for their convenience. Statistical analysis: Percentage and Chi square test used. Results: Out of 1518 total 320 class IV employees were included in the study. Out of 320 employees 86(26.9%) were addicted to alcohol, 58(18.1%) for smoking and 121(37.8%) for tobacco in other form. Only 15–20% class IV employees had facilities for sitting, bathing and taking food. Out of 201 class IV employees who had needle prick/sharp injury, 28(13.9%) had done HIV testing and only 5(2.4%) taken antiretroviral treatment. Only 21(6.5%) employees received complete hepatitis B vaccination. Out of 320 employees 128(40%) had eathlessness, 86(27%) had eye irritation, 15–20% had blackening of skin, diarrhoea, nausea due to handling chemical and solid wastes. Two new pulmonary TB and 1 new diabetic were diagnosed during investigation. Sixty four employees died before retirement from 2003 to 2006. conclusions: Very few employees had basic work facilities in hospital. Occupational hazards were more; but reporting is very less in hospitals.