Iran Occupational Health

  Background and aims: The knowledge of the rate and causes of occupational hazards occurring in hospitals may be effective in formulating policy aimed at prevention as well as reducing related accidents and cost. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristic factors responsible for the occupational hazards occurrences among the employees of teaching hospitals of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences.

  Methods: This study was a descriptive analysis of 258 employees of Qazvin teaching hospitals in 2012.In this study, samples were chosen using a stratified multi- stages method. A researcher-made questionnaire was used for collection of data. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS software and presented as count, frequency and percentages. Categorical data were analyzed using t- test as well as Anova.

  Results: The highest level of occupational hazards’ occurrences was due to skin contact with blood or other body fluids while the lowest level was because of assaulting by patients or their families. There was a significant relation between the variables of age, gender, work experience, job title, and marital status as well as the hospital itself and the rate of occupational hazards. P<0/05).There was no significant relation between the mean duration of absence from work and the rate of occupational hazards (P>0/05).The most important cause of occupational hazards from the employees’ point of viewwas the overload working.

  Conclusion: Based on our results, it was found that the major factors influencing occupational Hazards’ development were included: overload working, personnel indiscretions as well as working condition. Therefore, increasing the number of employees proportional to the required job activities, training the employees regarding their occupational characteristics and monitoringof standard precautions are crucial factors for the prevention of occupational hazards.