Ma. Janice J. Gumasing
ABSTRACT
This study focused on the occupational risks experienced by healthcare workers in public hospitals. Studies have showed that factors in the physical environment such as noise, illumination, and temperature represent a significant risk among hospital staff. Ergonomic assessment was conducted to determine the risks associated with high noise level, low illumination level, and high indoor temperature. Survey questionnaires were distributed to 276 healthcare workers to obtain the RPN (risk priority number) in the selected areas in three public hospitals in Metro Manila, Philippines. Subsequently, noise, illumination, and temperature of these hospitals were measured using sound level meter, light meter, and digital LCD electronic thermometer respectively. The RPN and physical environment measurements were statistically analyzed to determine the areas with high occupational risk. Results of the study show that noise level and temperature have strong positive relationship with the occupational risks. As the measurements of these physical environment increases, the occupational risk experienced by the healthcare workers also increases. However, illumination level and the occupational risk have a moderate to strong negative relationship with each other. It can be implied that a dimmer surrounding causes problems to healthcare workers. It was also observed that the OPD, OB ward, ER, OB nurse station, pediatrics ward, and medicine ward have high occupational risk in terms of noise level. Meanwhile for illumination, areas with high occupational risks due to poor lighting are ER, OR, laboratory, pharmacy, OPD, OB nurse station, and surgical nurse station. For this reason, the researchers were able to design an ideal physical environment for the public hospitals using the principles of ergonomics.
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Index Terms
- An Ergonomic Approach on Physical Assessment of Public Hospitals in the Philippines
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