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Survey of occupational health services in Hong Kong hospitals

Background:Twelve years after the enactment of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance (OSHO) (Chapter 509), this research explores the extent to which the OHS has been applied in Hong Kong (HK). It was found that OHS provided a very wide range of services to the nursing staff working in hospital. The nature and content of the service were different from hospital to hospital. This research intended to use an approach of non-experimental survey and interview to evaluate the effectiveness of Occupational Health Service (OHS). Objective:The aim of the survey was to obtain information on the organizational structure of the unit, policies and procedures, the range of services and programs that are offered, and the types of occupational health problems that are encountered and reported. Methods:This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional research design using questionnaires and interviews to collect data from the OH&S services of seven Hong Kong hospitals selected to represent the public and private sectors and three Hong Kong regions (New Territories, Kowloon, Hong Kong Island). The survey questionnaire collected information on the organization of the service, types of services and programs offered, reported OH&S problems and concerns, and OH&S policies and procedures. A follow-up interview was arranged for further clarification if needed. Results:Fifty-four percent respondents reported that their service was organized as a separate department unit. All hospitals managed work related injuries, and most provided ergonomic assessments of work related risk problems. Occupational health problem reported were similar for public and private hospitals. Common injuries included muscle strain, back problems, and incidents involving handling chemicals. Most hospitals had policies and procedures relating to infection control, fire safety and immunization. Discussion:Findings will be used to plan the second phase of the study which will entail a survey of nurses’ knowledge and use of OH&S services. Conclusion:A more extensive survey is needed to provide a clearer picture of OH&S services provided by hospitals in Hong Kong.