MODERN METHODS OF PREVENTING OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES IN HEALTHCARE WORKERS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55640/Keywords:
Occupational diseases; healthcare workers; occupational health; prevention; workplace safety; medical staff; risk factors; personal protective equipment; infection control; biological hazards; ergonomics; burnout.Abstract
Healthcare workers represent one of the most occupationally exposed groups in any society, facing a uniquely broad spectrum of workplace hazards including biological pathogens, hazardous chemical agents, ionising and non-ionising radiation, ergonomic stressors, and severe psychological demands. Despite decades of awareness, occupational diseases among medical staff remain a significant public health and workforce management challenge globally. This study examines the current landscape of occupational risk in healthcare settings and evaluates the effectiveness of modern preventive strategies employed to mitigate those risks.
The research was conducted using a mixed-methods approach combining a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed publications from 2010 to 2024, a cross-sectional survey of 520 healthcare workers across multiple institutional settings, direct workplace observation, and medical-statistical analysis of occupational health records. Preventive interventions assessed included personal protective equipment (PPE) programmes, vaccination policies, infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols, ergonomic workplace redesign, and structured psychological support services.
Key findings indicate that biological hazards — particularly bloodborne pathogen exposure and airborne infectious agents — remain the most prevalent occupational risk category, affecting 61.4% of surveyed staff. However, multi-hazard exposure is the norm rather than the exception: 74.2% of respondents reported exposure to two or more distinct hazard categories simultaneously. Modern prevention programmes that integrated technical controls, administrative safeguards, and behavioural interventions demonstrated a 43–58% reduction in reportable occupational incidents compared with institutions relying on PPE distribution alone. The study concludes that a comprehensive, evidence-based, and institutionally committed approach to occupational health is essential to protect the health, safety, and professional sustainability of healthcare workers.
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