Significant occupational hazards faced by healthcare workers in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Healthcare workers are exposed to a variety of work-related hazards that can negatively impact their health and well-being. This paper examines the various work-related hazards affecting healthcare workers in Zimbabwe, including physical, chemical, biological and psychosocial hazards. Search of books, book chapters, journals, published articles, thesis and abstracts was done using databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Springer, Sage Publications, Web of Science and African Journals Online without date limit. Articles published in English were gathered to be considered during the compilation of the review. The study found that healthcare workers in Zimbabwe face numerous challenges, including inadequate training, protective equipment and long working hours and exposure to infectious diseases. However, implementation of methods to reduce hazards in countries like Zimbabwe is suboptimal. As a result this paper concludes with a developed framework for managing all types of risks affecting healthcare workers in Zimbabwe. The development of the proposed framework for managing work-related hazards was developed based on Plan, Do, Check and Act model.