Awareness of Electricity Workers Regarding Occupational Health Hazards: Preventive Study

Doaa Mohamed Sobhy Elsayed^1, and Hanem Awad Mekhmier²

¹Community Health Nursing, Benha University, Benha, Egypt

²Community Health Nursing, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt

Cite this paper:
Doaa Mohamed Sobhy Elsayed and Hanem Awad Mekhmier. Awareness of Electricity Workers Regarding Occupational Health Hazards: Preventive Study. American Journal of Nursing Research. 2017; 5(6):219-225. doi: 10.12691/ajnr-5-6-4

Abstract

Electricity workers are facing significant electrical hazards, preventive actions are important to decrease these hazards. This study Aimed to evaluate the effect of preventive program on electricity workers' awareness regarding occupational health hazards. Design: A quasi experimental design was used. Setting: This study was carried out at two districts of Qalubiya electricity sector. Sample: All electricity workers from the above mentioned settings were included. There were 78workers. Tools: I- structured interviewing questionnaire to determine electricity workers' socio-demographic characteristics, exposure to electricity hazards, knowledge regarding electricity hazards and its prevention and practices of workers regarding precaution to avoid electricity hazards. Results: The current study results revealed that, 35.9% of participants aged from 30 to 39 years old, 57.7% of them were experienced from 1 to 10 years, 43.6% of workers were exposed to injury during their current work, none of workers had good total knowledge scores regarding electricity hazards, and only 2.6% of workers had high satisfactory total practices score preprogram. While, after the program implementation, 89.7% of them had good total knowledge score, and high satisfactory total practices score increased to 88.5%. Conclusion: This study concluded that there were a significant improvement in electricity workers' knowledge and practices regarding prevention of electricity health hazards. Recommendation: ongoing periodic health education programs carried out by the occupational health nurse to raise the awareness of electricity workers about electrical health hazards and periodic training on hazards prevention and electrical safety as well as first aids should be sustained for electricity workers.

Keywords:
electricity hazards electricity workers prevention

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Alli, B., O. (2008). Fundamentals Principles of Occupational Health and Safety, 2nd (ed.), ILO publications, Geneva, P 3.
[2]	Fire Protection Research Foundation, (2015). Occupational Injuries From Electrical Shock and Arc Flash Events, Available@ www.nfpa.org/research/fire-protectionresearch-foundation/.
[3]	Work care making health count, (2015). Electrical Hazards: Take Precautions to Reduce Injury and Fatality Risk, Available@ http://www.workcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/WorkCare-Fact-Sheet-Electrical-Safety-2015.pdf.
[4]	Health and Safety Executive (HSE), (2012). Electrical safety and you A brief guide, Available@ http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg231.pdf.
[5]	EFCOG Electrical Safety Improvement Project, (2012). Electrical Safety Hazards Awareness, Available @ https://www.lanl.gov/safety/electrical/docs/elec_hazard_awareness_study_guide.pdf.
[6]	Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA), (2016). Electrical Safety, Available@ https://www.osha.gov/Publications/electrical_safety.html.
[7]	Tulonen, T., (2010). Electrical Accident Risks in Electrical Work, Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Technology, Tampere University, Finland, pp. 1-49.
[8]	OSHA Office of Training & Education, (2010). Electrical Safety – Construction, Available @ http://www.mwua.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/electrical_c.pdf.
[9]	Afifi,R., Zaytou, S., El Raggal, A., Qulali, A., and Ayoub, H. (2015). Involvement of Male Youth in.to Accidents inUpper Egypt: Pattern and Risk Analysis, Health Journal; 7: pp. 965-975.
[10]	Jalali, H., Baloochestani, A., Maghami, M., Seyed, M., and Malihe, G. (2016). Prevention and control of operating room fires: knowledge of staff employed by selected hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Digital Med 2(2).
[11]	Kasana, R., Baba, P., and Wani, A. (2016). Pattern of High Voltage Electrical Injuries in The KASHMIR VALLEY: A 10-Year Single Centre Experience, Srinagar, Kashmir, India, Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters; vol. XXIX(4): pp. 259-263.
[12]	Roy, R., Vijayakumar), A., and Nair, R. (2015). A Study on Electrical Accidents and Safety Measures, INDIA, International Journal of Latest Trends in Engineering and Technology; 5(2): pp. 147-154.
[13]	Abd EL Hameed. H., ALY, H., and Abd El Latif, O., (2012). An intervention study to evaluate compliance with personal protective equipment among workers at Textile industry. J Am Sci; 8(7): 117-121.
[14]	Musa, O., Amidala, J., Salaudeen, A., Saromi. H., and Omi, A. (2012). Occupational hazard awareness and safety practices among cement factory workers at obajana, Kogi state, Nigeria. Elixir Bio Diver. 47.Pp. 9013-9018.
[15]	Ibrahim, S. (2016). Occupational Health Hazards among Flax Factories in Shubra Meles Village, Master thesis in public health nursing Benha University, Egypt. pp. 80-93.
[16]	Kripa, R., Sachdev, R., Mallure, M., and saiyed, H. (2005). Knowledge, Attitude and Practices related to Occupational Health Problems among Salt Workers, India, Journal of occupational Health; 47(1): p.85.
[17]	Tziaferi, S., Sourtzi, P., Kalokairinou, A., Sgourou, E., Koumoulas, E., and Velonakis, E. (2011). Risk assessment of physical hazards in Greek hospitals combining staff’s perception, experts’ evaluation, and objective measurements. Safety Health Work 2(3): pp.260-272.
[18]	El-Hady, M., Alazab, R., Wahed, A., Ghandour, A., and Elsaidy, W. (2013). Risk assessment of physical health hazards in Al-Azhar University Hospital in new Damietta, Egypt. Egypt J Hosp Med 53: pp.1019-1035.
[19]	El-Sallamy. R., Kabbash,I., El-Feky, A., Abd El-Fatah, S., (2017). Physical hazard safety awareness among healthcare workers in Tanta university hospitals, Egypt. Environ Sci Pollut Res.