OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY COMPLIANCE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR WORKFORCE PRODUCTIVITY AND PATIENT SAFETY IN TERTIARY HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Alfred Atu Atu; Elizabeth Andrew-Essien

doi:10.83374/jesber.vol1no2.35

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Published: 2026-07-15

DOI: https://doi.org/10.83374/jesber.vol1no2.35

Keywords:

occupational health and safety compliance, healthcare workforce productivity, patient safety culture, occupational hazard burden, personal protective equipment, healthcare risk governance, tertiary healthcare facilities, Cross River State

Atu Alfred Atu

Department of Environmental Management, University of Calabar, Calabar

Elizabeth E. Andrew-Essien

Department of Environmental Management, University of Calabar, Calabar

Abstract

Occupational health and safety (OHS) failures in hospitals expose workers to biological, chemical, physical, ergonomic and psychosocial hazards, undermining productivity and patient safety. This study assessed OHS compliance, hazard exposure, occupational incidents, and the relationships of compliance with workforce productivity and patient safety in hospitals in Cross River State, Nigeria. A descriptive mixed-method survey combined questionnaires from 400 healthcare workers, key-informant interviews and hospital records for 2020–2025. Sampling was stratified and random. Data were analysed with percentages, Pearson correlation and a risk-priority matrix derived from cadre-level compliance and hazard-exposure scores. Compliance was below 60% in every cadre and lowest among cleaners (34%) and orderlies (39%). Biological exposure was highest among laboratory scientists (88%) and nurses (85%), while psychological stress peaked among nurses (88%). Records documented 353 COVID-19 infections, 348 needle-stick injuries and 241 slips/falls. OHS compliance correlated positively with workforce productivity (r = .72) and patient safety (r = .76). Cleaners and orderlies occupied the highest-priority risk quadrant. PPE provision, recurrent training, incident surveillance, ergonomic controls, protected safety budgets and enforceable audits are required. The study integrates worker, institutional and longitudinal evidence to identify cadre-specific intervention priorities.

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Vol. 1 No. 2 (2026)

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OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY COMPLIANCE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR WORKFORCE PRODUCTIVITY AND PATIENT SAFETY IN TERTIARY HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA. (2026). Journal of Enviromental Sciences and Built Environental Research, 1(2), 41-56. https://doi.org/10.83374/jesber.vol1no2.35

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