Dr. Sanjeeva Kumar M N, BDS, MBA
Chief Executive Officer, Siddaganga Medical College & Research Institute (SMCRI), Tumakuru
Email: sanjeevadr@gmail.com; ORCID: 0009-0009-6985-0998
STRUCTURED ABSTRACT
Background: Hospitals are complex environments where staff are exposed to biological, chemical, physical, ergonomic, and psychosocial risks. In India, where healthcare systems are under high demand, occupational safety is critical not only for staff well-being but also for patient safety.
Objective: This article examines occupational safety practices in hospitals, integrating Indian regulatory frameworks such as the National Guidelines on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) accreditation standards, while reflecting on over 2 decades of hospital management experience in South India.
Methods/Approach: Using a narrative, experience-driven approach, the article discusses system-level frameworks (IPC committees, SOPs, audits, incident reporting), staff-focused strategies (training, Personal protective equipment [PPE] use, workplace violence mitigation), and institutional leadership roles in fostering safety culture. Illustrative statistics and charts are used to highlight practical challenges and solutions.
Results/Insights: Evidence and field experience demonstrate that structured IPC programmes, regular competency-based training, incident reporting systems, and non-punitive learning environments lead to measurable improvements in staff safety outcomes. Workplace violence remains an urgent hazard, affecting over 60% of Indian doctors annually, underscoring the need for hospital-wide prevention and reporting strategies.
Conclusion: Occupational safety in hospitals is both a workforce well-being issue and a patient safety imperative. Indian hospitals, especially in South India, can significantly reduce occupational hazards by embedding safety into governance, accreditation, and daily practice. This article forms the first in a series focusing on specific staff roles and service areas to advance a safety-oriented culture in healthcare delivery.
KEYWORDS: Occupational safety, hospital workplace hazards, infection prevention and control, workplace violence, hospital management, NABH accreditation, healthcare worker safety, South India.
Citation: Sanjeeva Kumar, M. N. (2025). OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY IN THE HOSPITAL SETTING: INSIGHTS FROM HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH INDIA. VLEARNY Journal of Biological Sciences, 1(2), 18–23. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17210724
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VLEARNY Journal of Biological Sciences
1 (2) 2025, 18-23, https://vlearny.com/vjbs/
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