Understanding the awareness of health and safety signs amongst health care workers in Pakistan – A cross-sectional study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Memon, Muhammad Rizwan^{a; b; *} | Memon, Hina^b | Memon, Sarwat^c | Memon, Shahzad^d | Bhurgri, Humera^b | Baig, Muhammad Nadeem^e | Khattak, Osama^f | Iqbal, Azhar^f | Issrani, Rakhi^{e; g; *} | Prabhu, Namdeo^h

Affiliations: [a] Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | [b] Department of Prosthodontics, Institute of Dentistry, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan | [c] Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Isra University, Hyderabad, Pakistan | [d] Department of Ophthalmology, Sindh Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Hyderabad, Pakistan | [e] Department of Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | [f] Department of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | [g] Department of Research Analytics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India | [h] Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Dr. Rakhi Issrani, Lecturer, Department of Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mails: [email protected], [email protected] and Department of Research Analytics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India and Dr. Muhammad Rizwan Memon, Professor, Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail: [email protected] and Department of Prosthodontics, Institute of Dentistry, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Safety signs are very important communication tools for accident prevention, fire safety, health hazard information, and emergency evacuation. However, they are helpful only when properly designed and understood by employees. OBJECTIVES:The purpose of the present study was to assess the awareness of health and safety signs amongst health care workers including doctors, dentists and paramedics in different health care sectors across Pakistan. METHODS:Data was collected via Google forms circulated through WhatsApp social media to predetermined groups of health care professionals to assess their understanding of safety signs across different health sectors. The survey included questions pertaining to awareness of 19 different health and safety signs complied with International Organization for Standardization 1710 and the Safety Signs and Signal Regulations 1996 chosen randomly. RESULTS:A total of 987 people participated in our study and were asked to comprehend the meaning of nineteen health and safety signs. The mean comprehension score for 19 signs was 42.2%. The mean score for warning signs was the lowest and fire safety signs was highest. The lowest comprehension scores were for oxygen cylinder sign (W029) 7.5% and highest for first aid sign (E003) 75.9%. Only two signs, that are first aid (E003) and mandatory gloves (M009) had acceptable comprehensive score of 75.9% and 73.7% respectively as per ISO 7010 i.e. >67%. Statistically significant differences were found only for trip hazard sign (W007) with respect to education and for risks of bomb explosion (W002), ionising radiation (W009), evacuation assembly point (E007), location of automated external heart defibrillator (E010) and mandatory gloves (M009) with work experience. CONCLUSION:Based on our results, we conclude that there is dire need of special and frequent training to better recognize the safety signs amongst health care employees since these kinds of interventions promote early detection of hazards and their associated risks. Thus, we propose that health care safety sign training must be included in every health care profession curriculum.

Keywords: Safety, health care, accident prevention, workplace, curriculum, emergencies

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-240064

Journal: Work, vol. 79, no. 4, pp. 2033-2044, 2024