LABORATORY SAFETY BEHAVIOR AND MANEGEMENT AMONG STUDENTS OF SIRINDHOEN COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH KHONKAEN

Abstract

Abstract

This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to determine laboratory safety behavior and safety management among students at Sirindhorn College of Public Health KhonKaen during the academic year 2020. Participants were 295 students randomly selected to be examined for their knowledge and safety behaviors in using laboratories, including microbiology, environmental health and pharmaceutical laboratories. In addition, safety management in all three laboratories was inspected. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics linked to frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation, and also Pearson product moment correlation coefficient were used to analyze data.

The results indicated that knowledge of the students regarding safety regulations and prevention of all three laboratories, microbiology, environmental health and pharmaceutical laboratories, was at the intermediate level with the average score of 8.32 (S.D.=1.58), 8.91 (S.D.= 0.85) and 7.98 (S.D.=1.38) respectively. Similarly, safety behavior of the students in using microbiology laboratory and pharmaceutical laboratory was at the intermediate level with the average score of 2.40 (S.D.=0.98) and 2.39 (S.D.=0.23) respectively, while safety behavior of the students in using environmental health laboratory showed as at a good level with the average score of 2.53 (S.D.= 0.25). Significant positive direction in relationship between knowledge and safety behavior was revealed (P-value<0.05). In terms of laboratory safety and safety management survey with seven aspects, it could be seen that all three laboratories did not meet the evaluation criteria and three aspects were illustrated as the three least scores including providing fundamental safety knowledge in using laboratory, safety management and chemical management system.

This study suggests that the college should organize short-term and long-term risk controls and safety management training about all three laboratories in all safety aspects for relevant persons including laboratory staffs, instructors and students.

Keywords: Safety Management, Safety Behavior, Scientific Laboratory