Occupational Health Education and Safety Practices Among Healthcare Workers in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State

Healthcare workers are exposed to a range of occupational hazards including biological, chemical, and ergonomic risks, making occupational health education a professional imperative. This study investigated occupational health education and safety practices among healthcare workers at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, South East Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was used, with 220 clinical and non-clinical staff selected through stratified random sampling. A structured self-administered questionnaire assessed exposure to occupational health education, knowledge of workplace hazards, and adherence to standard precaution practices. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-square were applied. Findings revealed that while 81 percent of respondents were aware of standard precautions, only 59 percent consistently used personal protective equipment during patient care. Needle-stick injuries were reported by 37 percent of clinical workers in the past year, with most attributing this to high patient load and inadequate safety equipment. Staff who had attended formal occupational health education workshops within the previous 12 months demonstrated significantly higher adherence to safety protocols. The study recommended mandatory periodic occupational health education refresher training and establishment of a functional occupational health unit at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri. Keywords: occupational health education, safety practices, healthcare workers, Federal Medical Centre Owerri, standard precautions