Three large public hospitals (one tertiary and two regional) in Free State
province with professional staff components, i.e. staff working directly in
patient care [doctors (1 318), nurses (989) and allied health (497)], were
included in this study. The three hospitals were purposively selected in
consultation with the Free State Department of Health as pilot sites for
the implementation of the OHASIS system and the collection of baseline
occupational health and safety, as well as infection control, data.
Workplace audits and a cross-sectional survey of HCWs were conducted
from November 2011 to February 2012 at the hospitals.