Numerous risky health and safety practices were reported. More than
half of the respondents (54.8%) did not wear N95® respirators to protect
against tuberculosis infection, even when they knew that the situation
called for this practice. This may relate to the lack of availability of
N95® respirators, observed during the workplace audits. Further unsafe
practices included more than half of the respondents (57.2%) reporting
that they recapped needles, 28.5% washed their gloves after use and
19.8% did not always wash their hands with soap and water between
caring for different patients.
There was a significant association between HCWs who protected
themselves (i.e. wore N95® respirators, when indicated) and those who
followed basic infection control practices to protect patients, measured
by hand washing (p-value < 0.05). Many health and safety practices
protect both patients and staff, e.g. screening staff for tuberculosis is
both for the benefit of the health professional and his or her co-workers
and families, as well as the patients.