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  • Burcu YERLİKAYA YARAN
Laboratuvar Çalışanlarının Mesleki Risk Faktörleri: Artvin’de İşçi Sağlığı ve İş Güvenliği Uygulamalarına İlişkin bir Değerlendirme

ÖZ

Laboratuvarlar, pek çok kombine riske yoğun olarak maruz kalınan çalışma mekânlarıdır. Bu çalışmada, laboratuvar çalışanlarının mesleki risk faktörleri ile bu risklere yönelik uygulanan işçi sağlığı ve iş güvenliği tedbirlerinin açığa çıkarılması amaçlanmaktadır. Bu bağlamda araştırmanın yürütüldüğü il devlet hastanesi tıbbi merkez laboratuvarında çalışan 12 kişiyle yüz yüze derinlemesine görüşmeler yapılmıştır. Yapılan görüşmeler neticesinde araştırılan laboratuvardaki mesleki risklerin fiziksel, kimyasal, biyolojik, ergonomik ve psikososyal kaynaklı olduğu anlaşılmıştır. Fiziksel risk faktörlerinden havalandırma ve termal konforun uygun olmayışı, kimyasal ve biyolojik risk faktörlerine maruziyeti artırmaktadır. Yüksek gürültüye maruziyet de çalışanların sağlığını olumsuz etkilemektedir. Görüşmelerde uygun olmayan laboratuvar tasarımı, alan yetersizliği, düzensizlik ve hijyen eksikliğine vurgu yapılmaktadır. Verimli ve kapsamlı bir eğitim programı olmaması ile birlikte afet ve acil durum yönetimi ile ilgili bilgi eksikliği de dikkat çekmektedir. Çalışma, görüşmelerden elde edilen bulgular ile bu alanda yapılmış mevcut çalışmaların karşılaştırılması ve çalışılan ortamın işçi sağlığı ve iş güvenliği kapsamında iyileştirilmesine katkıda bulunacak önerilerle tamamlanmıştır.
Anahtar Kelimeler : İşçi sağlığı, iş güvenliği, laboratuvar çalışanları, mesleki risk faktörleri
Occupational Risk Factors of Laboratory Workers: An Assesment of Occupational Health and Safety Practices in Artvin

ABSTRACT

Laboratories are working spaces where there is a high exposure to many combined risks. In this study, it is aimed to reveal the occupational risk factors of laboratory workers and the occupational health and safety measures applied for these risks. In this context, in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with 12 people working in the medical center laboratory of the provincial state hospital where the research was conducted. As a result of the interviews, it was understood that the occupational risks in the researched laboratory were of physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial origin. Among the physical risk factors, improper ventilation and thermal comfort increase exposure to chemical and biological risk factors. Exposure to loud noise also negatively affects the health of workers. In the interviews, inappropriate laboratory design, lack of space, irregularity and lack of hygiene are emphasized. Along with the lack of an efficient and comprehensive educational program, the lack of knowledge about disaster and emergency management also attracts attention. The study was completed by comparing the findings obtained from the interviews with the existing studies conducted in this field and with suggestions that will contribute to the improvement of the working environment within the scope of occupational health and safety.

Extended Summary

Health services contain different risks from other sectors in terms of the working environment, conditions and hours, as well as the nature of the work performed. The risks that health workers are exposed to also differ greatly according to the unit being studied. Of these units, laboratories are work areas that are heavily exposed to many combined risks. Hospital laboratories are in the very dangerous class in the workplace hazard classes list. Occupational health and safety measures should be carried out meticulously in hospital laboratories. Otherwise, various risks will arise in terms of laboratory workers, other workers and public health. In this study, it is aimed to reveal the occupational risk factors of the workers of the medical central laboratory of Artvin State Hospital and the occupational health and safety measures applied in the laboratory. In the study, interview technique, one of the data collection methods used in qualitative research, was used. Semi-structured interview was preferred among the interview techniques. The universe of the study consists of twenty-six people working in the hospital laboratory, and the sample consists of twelve people who want to participate in the research The research was carried out in biochemistry, microbiology and pathology laboratories, which are gathered together under the name of medical central laboratory.

The research findings are classified as “Findings Related to Hazards and Risks in the Medical Center Laboratory” and “Findings Related to Occupational Health and Safety in the Medical Center Laboratory”.

When the findings related to the hazards and risks in the medical center laboratory are examined, it has been seen that the workers are exposed to all of the biological, chemical, physical, ergonomic and psychosocial risk factors. Chemical risks are high in microbiology and pathology laboratories. Injuries related to sectioning are more common in the pathology laboratory. Every three laboratories are exposed to biological risks depending on working with blood and body fluids and culture and tissue samples.

Among the physical risk factors, noise, improper ventilation and thermal comfort are among the most important problems. The nonconformities related to the laboratory design are also noteworthy. The location of the laboratory, which is located on the second floor of the hospital and needs to be isolated, is not suitable. There is only one toilet that men and women use in common. This creates a privacy and hygiene issue. Since there is no changing room, employees wear their uniforms in the toilet or recreation room. The laboratory and work benches are narrow, irregular and crowded. All of these shortcomings put stress on employees and increase the likelihood of occupational accidents.

Employees have stated that they are also exposed to ergonomic risk factors. Work intensity, repetitive movements, manual transport, excessive workload and improper ergonomics of working vehicles are frequently repeated ergonomic risks.

It is understood that employees are often exposed to psychosocial risk factors. It has been understood that situations such as discrimination, time pressure, excessive workload, lack of appreciation-motivation and value vision, inability to get paid for work, encountering impossible requests, obligation to make important decisions and heavy conscientious responsibility have an impact on their physical and psychological health.

When we look at the findings related to occupational health and safety in the medical center laboratory, the use of personal protective equipment is one of the most important shortcomings. The use of masks, glasses and surgical gown is rare. Employees stated that they could not use them because ventilation and thermal comfort were not suitable.

Employees stated that employee occupational health and safety trainings are not regular and of sufficient quality. Some of the employees stated that they received job initiation training, while others did not receive such training. There are also employees who do not regularly participate in general occupational health and safety trainings.

Insufficient knowledge about disaster and emergency management is another identified deficiency. Most of the employees do not know about the disaster and emergency teams and their plan.

In order to reduce or eliminate all the mentioned risks, it is essential to identify the hazards and risks in the medical center laboratory. In this context, appropriate risk assessments and control measures need to be decided. Priority should be given to collective protection measures rather than personal protection measures.

Many of the detected deficiencies are mainly due to the physical conditions of the hospital and laboratory. The narrow, mountainous and rugged nature of Artvin province is effective. One of the most important problems is that biochemistry, microbiology and pathology laboratories are located in the same main working area. The expansion of the working area with the provision of suitable places for personal needs will greatly improve health and safety conditions. In this context, first of all, it is recommended to improve the laboratory design and expand the space.

Keywords : Worker health, occupational safety, laboratory workers, occupational risk factors

Kaynak Göster

APA
YERLİKAYA YARAN, B., & . ( 2024). Laboratuvar Çalışanlarının Mesleki Risk Faktörleri: Artvin’de İşçi Sağlığı ve İş Güvenliği Uygulamalarına İlişkin bir Değerlendirme. Çalışma ve Toplum, 1(80), 13-66. https://doi.org/10.54752/ct.1421756