An Overview of Occupational Accidents: A Hospital Example

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare workers frequently encounter occupational risks through direct patient care, invasive procedures, and demanding work environments. Such accidents not only threaten employee well-being but may also disrupt service delivery. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of occupational accidents reported in a tertiary hospital and to examine contributing factors.
METHODS: This retrospective, descriptive study included occupational accidents reported by healthcare staff between January 2018 and May 2021. Records were reviewed to obtain information on demographics, professional roles, locations and types of accidents, the timing of incidents (08: 00–17: 00 vs. outside these hours), and whether labor loss occurred. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test and the chi-square test, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: A total of 663 occupational accidents were recorded, most involving female employees (56.6%). The mean age of affected individuals was 31.87±9.78 years. Nurses and midwives experienced the highest proportion of incidents (38.3%). Sharp-object and needlestick injuries were the most frequently reported accident type (63.2%), and more than half of all events occurred during routine working hours (55.0%, n=365). Labor loss was documented in 11.5% of employees (mean 5.30±5.37 days). Sharp-object injuries predominantly affected female workers, whereas male workers were more commonly exposed to battery and violence (p<0.001). Violence was reported most often in the emergency department, while sharp-object injuries occurred mainly in internal medicine units (p<0.001).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Occupational accidents in healthcare settings remain a significant concern. The findings highlight the need to strengthen preventive measures, particularly for nurses and midwives and for employees working with sharp instruments during high-workload periods. Efforts to reduce workplace violence in emergency departments and to reinforce practical safety training may help protect healthcare workers and prevent avoidable loss of labor and productivity.

Keywords: Healthcare workers, hospital safety, occupational accidents, sharps injuries, workplace violence.