Occupational health protection for health workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Nakhonphanom hospital, Thailand.

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the occupational health protection process using hierarchy of biological hazard control for health worker of Nakhonphanom hospital from SARs-CoV-2 infection, and results of using such methods.

Material and method: This study was a retrospective descriptive study of occupational health protection on health workers in Nakhonphanom hospital during novel coronavirus 2019 pandemic period. The principle of hierarchy of biological hazard control was applied for occupational health protection. A total of 1,280 health workers during the period from February 29, 2020 to September 30, 2022, were included. The outcome of the protection process was obtained from the epidemiological investigation of health worker infected with the SARs-CoV-2 during the period including; number, gender, age range, occupation, hospital department, COVID-19 vaccinations, and cause of infection.

Results: The hierarchy of biological control consist of; engineering control, administrative control, and using personal protective equipment. Health workers infected with SARs-CoV-2 during the period amounted to 381 cases. There were 295 female cases, and 86 male cases, with an age range of < 50 years 313 cases, and ≥ 50 years old were 68 cases. All of them had fully covid-19 vaccinated. Nine health workers infected were work-related. The commonly infected occupations were registered nurses, practical nurses, patient support staff, and physicians accounted for 11.6, 3, 1.9, 1.5, and 1.1 percent of the total health workers, respectively. Classified by infected departments: operating room, obstetrics and gynecology ward / labor room, outpatient department, emergency room / emergency medical services, and surgical ward were representing 2.5, 2, 1.8, 1.7 and 1.7 percent of the total health workers, respectively.

Conclusions: Occupational health protection for 1,280 health workers in Nakhonphanom hospital during COVID-19 pandemic based on the principles of hierarchy of biological hazard control resulting in infected 381 cases, representing 29.8 percentage. The risks of contributing to increased SARs-CoV-2 infection among health workers consisted of 1) frequent aerosol generating procedures on COVID-19 patients, 2) the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital, 3) the health worker has a high working frequency, 4) the health worker who has characteristics of work that change workstations often, and (5) the level of knowledge and awareness of personnel regarding their actions in the COVID-19 situation.