Safety Awareness in Governmental and Private Hospitals in Saudi Arabia

Objectives: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed to several occupational health risks that affect their safety and require enhancement of their knowledge and awareness towards the safety practices. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the safety awareness among HCWs in governmental and private hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A pre-designed safety questionnaire was distributed among HCWs in selected hospitals through emails or WhatsApp groups including the Saudi and non-Saudi staff who have been working for more than a year. Results: Only 30% of the participants showed awareness of the noise hazard, 43% were aware of the radiation hazard, whereas 53.7% were aware of the lighting hazard. The awareness of fire threats was comparatively greater at 68.5%. Conclusion: Our results highlight the need for focused education and training programs to guarantee a safer working environment in healthcare units, particularly large hospitals and evaluate the safety awareness levels among HCWs regularly to monitor progress and prepare responsive training programs.