Open AccessDust concentration and awareness of safety and health among orthopaedic clinic staffs in Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Author(s) -
ZA Bakar,
Rahman Ia,
Anuar Ithnin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
iop conference series. earth and environmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1755-1307
pISSN - 1755-1315
DOI - 10.1088/1755-1315/489/1/012016
Subject(s) - kuala lumpur , medicine , occupational safety and health , family medicine , significant difference , pathology , marketing , business
Objective: The study was carried out to determine the concentration of total dust from the orthopaedic casting materials exposed to personnel and working area. The determination of knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) regarding occupational safety and health (OSH) aspects also conducted. Increase dust concentration above the permissible limit (PEL) would decrease the health status among the staffs. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the orthopaedic clinic public hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Determination of total dust concentration was using a NIOSH Manual of Analytical Method (NMAM 0501) for 8 hours and a direct reading for 10 minutes. A set of questionnaires assessing the level of KAP related to OSH at the orthopaedic clinic was distributed. Results: The results of total dust concentration in the casting room are 3.402 ± 0.003 mg/m 3 from area sampling and for the personal air sampling is 5.573 ± 0.040 mg/m 3 which are below than 15 mg/m 3 PEL. Percentage of KAP level of OSH in the orthopaedic clinic indicates knowledge (96.75%), attitude (83.7%) and practices (82.85%) respectively. However, this study found that the level of knowledge related to OSH at the orthopaedic clinic had significant relationships (p <0.05) with age, job titles and area of workplaces, while OSH attitudes in orthopaedic clinics had significant relationships (p <0.05) with job titles, use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Level of practice of OSH at orthopaedic clinics, there was significant relationship (p <0.05) with age, job titles and use of PPE. Conclusion: The risk to total dust concentration exposure in this study are relatively low, however, some literature suggested duration of exposure-response even though in the low concentration can be a predisposing factor toward to health occupational illnesses. Medical health surveillance should be implemented in every 6 months to monitor staff’s health status.