The role of occupational health nurse in hazard and risk assessment of work environment

Purpose

Although work place risk assessment takes place among the roles of occupational health nurse in international nursing literature, it doesn’t take place among the tasks expected from occupational health nurse in concerned legislation in Turkey. The purpose of the study is to present as evidence the efficiency of occupational health nurse and while assessing it in terms of  hazard and risk analysis in the work place.

 Material and methods

The study has been realized at railway factory in Turkish Republic State Railways (TCDD). With the method of walk-through; each chosen unit has been observed and has been made hazard and risk analysis, and determined hazards and risks as an occupational health nurse. Datas were assessed in program of SPSS 16.0 and has been made deviation analyze.  Complicacies  were determined For the established hazard and risks as an occupational health nurse, and been compared with work place physician and engineers’ datas. 

 Findings

According to findings; as a result of risk assessment made for the dye-house, weld and press machine, it is determined 48 risk with low, middle and high degree.  Pres machine is determined as an unit of high degree. in the workplace, 25% of hazards determined as to be physical hazards,  22,9% dangerous methods and processes. These assessment results of Occupational health nurse are compared with those of doctor and engineer, and all of them were  found consistent to each other.

 

 Result

Efficiency of occcupational health nurse in work place risk assessment was stated clearly. With purpose of accomplishing the aim of work safety, it is suggested that all workers in workplace work with division of labor in work health service and that further studies to assess this mission of occupational health nurses should been made.

 Key words

Occupational Health Nurse, Risk Assessment, Risk Analyze