Applying health, safety, and environmental risk assessment at academic settings
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Open Access
Applying health, safety, and environmental risk assessment at academic settings Alireza Dehdashti1, Farin Fatemi2*, Muhammadreza Jannati3, Fatemeh Asadi3 and Marzieh Belji Kangarloo3
Abstract Background: Students, staff, and faculties are involved in activities that exposed them to a range of minor to severe or even fatal accidents in academic settings. Managing work environment risks is crucial to any safety and health prevention program. This study developed a risk assessment using combinations of hazards and risk factors to establish a scale of measures in a risk reduction action plan. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in an Iranian medical sciences university in 2018. A structured method of risk assessment was developed, applying a three-step procedure to identify hazards, consequences, and risk evaluation. Data were collected through detailed health, safety, and environment checklist in 38 different sites. Finally, the risks quantified, prioritized, and control measures proposed accordingly. Chi-square and correlation tests assessed how environmental factors were associated with hazard consequences. The analysis results were evaluated at the significance level of 0.05. Results: The frequencies of moderate and high-risk levels were 22.7 and 2.9%, respectively. Thus, corrective measures should be considered as soon as possible and immediately for these risk groups. Facilities and functions within laboratories, library, and powerhouse were more vulnerable to serious risks. The type of hazard had associated with the sites and total risk score at the significance level of 0.05 (P-value = 0.017). Similarly, risk severity was significantly related to the sites (P-value = 0.003). Safety hazards had a statistically higher contribution to the total risk score when compared to health and environmental hazards. Conclusion: The study revealed complex risks and hazardous circumstances with significant variances in academic sites and activities. Universities should provide training in risk reduction programs to increase the awareness of students, staff, and faculties, which can improve life safety in a university environment. Keywords: Risk assessment, Accident, Academic institutions
Background During the last two decades, universities and academic institutions across Iran have experienced such tragedies that demonstrated their vulnerability against hazards and incidents. The number of accidents has been increased in academic institutions around the world [1]. * Correspondence: [email protected] 2 Research center for health sciences and technologies, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
Accidents may result in damage to equipment and facilities, minor or major injuries, or death [2]. A survey on reported accidents in Iranian higher education institutions showed 60 deaths and more injuries during educational and research activities [3, 4]. Universities are places where young people
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