Creating positive practice environments to prioritize occupational health
Given the vast scope of OSH risks that may be present in a health facility, implementers in resource-constrained environments struggle to determine which aspects of health worker safety should be prioritized, and the policy-to-practice gap persists. Challenges at the operational level may be due to limited knowledge or perception of risks and subsequent behaviour, and a limited authority to allocate resources to prevent or reduce risks. When dozens of recommendations for reducing OSH risks are made, facility managers may be overwhelmed and not know where to start. Fostering a positive practice environment can be a cost-effective, preventive approach to reducing OSH risks and increasing worker motivation and productivity (see Table 1 for the PPE Campaign checklist elements).
Translating the PPE policy into action at the organizational level has contributed greatly to an enabling environment for health workers that places their safety, health, and well-being at the core. Starting an OSH program at a facility can begin with collecting data on what occupational injuries occur in the facility and asking health workers what their greatest occupational health concerns are. Some of the most cost-effective interventions that also receive high staff support include universal precautions (gloves, gowns, splashguards); sharps boxes; handwashing stations; and clean, adequate bathroom facilities (WHO 2007). Some country cases that demonstrate best practices at the organizational level include the following: