Abstract

Cleaners are often not provided with any form of training and recruitees are often provided with nothing more than a routine introduction to the cleaning process despite their crucial role in keeping the health care environment clean little or no research has been done concerning their hazard exposure. Primary health care cleaners are subjected to various occupational health hazards that also affect professional health care workers. This research assessed work-related hazards and their prevention among cleaners in selected primary health care centers in Lagos. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge of workrelated hazard, and their prevention among cleaners in selected primary health Centre of Lagos state and determine the attitude of cleaners towards infection control measures. A nonexperimental descriptive cross-sectional survey was used for this study and 135 sampled respondents across the selected primary health care centres in Lagos state. The findings of this research showed majority of the participants had an above average knowledge on work related hazard 87(64.9%) majority of the respondents always utilise all the preventive measures. For instance, result shows that most of the participants wear their clean gloves 97(72.4%), clean and disinfect equipment and environment 97(72.4%), and regular hand washing 99(73.9%) also majority of the participants highly practice preventive measures in the selected PHC prevent hazards 107(79.9%). The findings of this study showed a significance relationship between level of knowledge and practice of hazard prevention among cleaners in the anselected (x2 = 924.323a ; p=0.000< .05), and also age is (x2 = 8.872, p = .043); marital status (x2 = 5.005, p = .039); educational qualification is (x2 = 19.001, p = .000); experience on the job is (x2 = 23.103, p = .006); and formal training is (x2 = 11.765, p = .000) are good correlates of practice of hazard prevention. This research recommends that nursing students could organize health education programme to the workers about prevention of occupational hazards during their industrial visit. In conclusion the high level of knowledge demonstrated by respondents was not at variance with practice, therefore, measures aimed at promoting safety practices and, minimizing exposure to hazards such as; provision of safety equipment, pre-placement and routine training of staff on safety practices and adequate reinforcement of staff capacity and capability should be institutionalized and made mandatory. The protocol of the safety training and drills should be responsive to evidence-based emerging and sectoral safety challenges.