Occupational Hazards Associated with the Quality and Training Needs of Public Health Inspectors in Greece (original) (raw)
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SSRN Electronic Journal, 2022
Background: Evidence the strong link between occupational risks, and training needs & quality, the research on occupational risks and their consequences to the general wellbeing of Public Health Inspectors is very limited, although the nature of the work presents a range of threats to physical and psychological health. The aim of this study was to report the job risks of Public Health Inspectors (PHIs') and investigate possible relationships with training needs. Methods: This is cross-sectional, nationwide study in Greece, conducted in one phase at the third quarter of 2021. For data collection, an online survey was created, and the web link was distributed to respondents by email. A total number were contacted, providing N=185 responses, which account for 27% (185/684) of the population under study. Job risks were measured with a novel instrument developed, proposed classification, also a checklist was proposed for risk assessment, and developed instrument for measured training needs and quality. Results: The findings indicated that 87% of participants gave high ratings to psychosocial risks and ergonomic risks, followed by 78% for organizational risks and 74% for biological risks. Physical risks and chemical risks are 55% and 56%. Organizational risks (β=-0.282, p=0.001), perceived training quality (β= 0.195, p=0.002), 65.41% reported high training needs.
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2023
Background: Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) are tasked with responding to emerging threats to Public Health, to control the pandemic crisis COVID-19, preventing and controlling communicable and environmental diseases, and face many health and safety issues while at work. This study aimed to investigate the training needs and training quality of Greek PHIs Organizations in urban and rural settings and also associated with demographic variables. Methods: This is a Nationwide cross-sectional study conducted between March and June 2021, in Greece. An online approved survey was created, and the web link was distributed to respondents by email, through the National Public Health Inspectorate Administration, while anonymity was retained. This is a nationwide study with a response rate 30, 5 %, N=185 (185/606). Results: Participants reported 64.51% high Training needs while only 8.11% report low training needs, and medium training needs 26,49% for PHIs (M=3.15, SD=0.70). In the fields of health and safety at work, stress management, personal protective equipment, and protection from chemical agents. Training quality 43.78% of participants rate as low while only 17.3% rate training quality as high, and 38,92% medium rate (M=3.57, SD=1.32). Training needs per gender results show Women perceive total and have higher levels of training needs vs Men. Conclusion: Reported high Training needs, and low rate in Training quality in the several fields of Occupational Health and Safety sections significant for PHIs in all workplace environments. This research will help in decision-making, policy formulation and administration of Organizations & Services, proper governance, and future Training Programs.
Safety Science , 2022
The aim of this study was to report the job risks of public health inspectors in Greece and investigate possible relationships with burnout and job satisfaction. An online survey was created, and the web link was distributed to respondents by email, through the National Public Health Inspectorate Administration, while anonymity was retained. A total number of 78 Public Health Inspectors were contacted and 46 responses were collected (response rate 58.97%). The study found that biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial risks are perceived as most severe in public health inspection. Higher levels of emotional exhaustion were associated with more prevalent ergonomic and psychosocial risks. Job satisfaction was associated with ergonomic risks, but it was most strongly predicted by demographic variables. Perceived quality of job training was found to be negatively related to psychosocial risks.
Safety Science, 2023
The aim of this study was to report the occupational hazards (job risks) of Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) in Greece and investigate possible relationships with burnout and job satisfaction. A sample of N = 185 PHIs total number of 606 (response rate 30.5 %), working in public health services departments nationwide. Data collection was performed in the second and third quarters of 2021, via an online survey. The survey included a questionnaire for risk perceptions, presenting risk factors in each risk categories: physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, psychosocial, and organizational, while burnout was measured with Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and job satisfaction with Spector’s Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS), also developed instrument for measured training quality and needs. A novel theoretical model was proposed, which after the results of the findings of this study indicated that for Greek PHIs psychosocial, ergonomic, and organizational risks were more prevalent compared to other risk categories. Moreover, psychosocial risks were significant predictors of burnout, while organizational risks and emotional exhaustion were linked to job satisfaction. PHIs working in rural areas reported higher perceptions of biological risks and burnout, compared to employees working in urban or semi-urban areas. This study contributes to the limited evidence supporting the link between job risks, burnout, and job satisfaction adding new information to occupational health and safety for the field of public health inspection, which could be exploited to advance the quality of Public Health Services provision. Also reported high training needs especially, protection against biological agents such as coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS IN THE GREEK PUBLIC SECTOR
Journal of Public Administration, Finance and Law, 2021
Occupational health and safety (OHS) is a major element of the labour relations aimed at protecting human life, preventing occupational accidents and diseases and protecting the health of the employees and the natural environment. OHS is an obligation of employers in the public and private sector in accordance with International Conventions, Directives of the European Union and provisions of the internal legal order. The article aims to present the most important challenges that employees in the Greek public sector face in the field of OHS, mainly through the study of the legal framework and the good practices of the public sector in other countries, as well as the comparison with those in force in the private sector. It also quotes initiatives that can be taken in order to prevent and improve the safety and health conditions of the employees, in the light of a complex economic, social, political and technological environment, where new occupational hazards are constantly emerging, as recently demonstrated by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this way, the institutional framework of the OHS in the public sector can be aligned with the modern requirements and contribute to the improvement of the lives of the employees, the better provision of services to the citizens and the increasing efficiency of the public sector.
Workplace Safety and Occupational Health Job Risks Hazards in Public Health Sector in Greece
European Journal of Environment and Public Health
Background: A systematic literature review in field of occupational health and safety job risks hazards in public health sector under the view of process that applies principles and techniques to create, communicate, and deliver value in order to influence target audience behaviors that benefit society as well as the intended employers, and also managers. The aim of the study is to change the activities in the workplace and society that will support the overall public health sector services in Greece and global. Methods: Review conducted and select research studies from January 2000 through February 2022, also the last two years on the recent frame of period of COVID-19 pandemic. Detected 195 studies and selected seven articles were included in this review according to criteria. These articles reported a variety of exposures faced by public health professionals working in public health sector. This review also revealed a number of strategies that can be adopted to control, eliminate, or reduce hazards job risks in occupational safety and health in Greece and global. Conclusion: This review highlights, the positively association and correlations between workplace safety and occupational health and safety job risks hazards in public health sector in Greece. Few papers are published based on the very contemporary title considered for the article; hence, this study identified several articles in the scientific literature, but only few articles were classified as eligible according to the previously established criteria especially in public health services and organizations sector.
33rd International Congress on Occupational Health 2022 (ICOH 2022) 6–10 February 2022, 2022
The aim of this study was to report the job risks of public health inspectors in Greece and investigate possible relationships with burnout and job satisfaction. Despite the repeated evidence that point out the strong link between job risks, work-related stress, and emotional exhaustion, to this date, the research on job risks and their consequences to the general wellbeing of Public Health Inspectors is extremely limited, although the nature of the work presents a range of threats to physical and psychological health. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of job risks experienced by Public Health Inspectors in Greece and their relationship to burnout and job satisfaction. In these terms, the research question is: What are the job risks of Greek Public Health Inspectors and how are they associated to burnout and job satisfaction? Methods: An online survey was created, and the web link was distributed to respondents by email, through the National Public Health Inspectorate Administration, while anonymity was retained. A total number of 78 Public Health Inspectors were contacted and 46 responses were collected (response rate 58.97%). The departments of Public Health Services that took part in this nationwide pilot study were: a) Ionian Islands Region,
The involvement of Safety Engineering and Occupational Medicine Professions in the Greek Industry
PROBLEM UNDER STUDY: In Greece there is a legal framework outlining the minimum acceptant level of and Health (OSH) conditions in all the work places. In the formation of these conditions, the role of the Safety Officer (SO) and the Occupational Medicine Doctor (OMD) is very important. The problem under study is the exercising of these two professions in the Greek industry in the reality. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of our study were first to identify if the Greek industries comply to the law not typically, but substantially and second to assess the involvement of the scientists in forming of a safe and healthy workplace. METHOD OR APPROACH: The methodology was based on a structured questionnaire, delivered by the researchers in association with trade union representatives in the workplaces. Here, we present the analysis of the workers’ opinion on the role and function of the scientists, as experienced daily in their factory. RESULTS: The paper discusses the results of a pioneering study realized in 25 factories, all members of the Greek Federation of Industrial Trade Unions (OVES), during 1998. The survey was undertaken by the Greek Institute for Occupational Health & Safety (ELINYAE), Athens, Greece, with the financial support of the European program “SAFE”. The workers’ opinion appears as follows: 1. The Safety Officer has a daily presence, due mainly of his main occupation as technical engineering staff. 2. The workers take the initiative of addressing issues to him in order to refer their own problems. 3. The inspection of work places from him is not particularly satisfactory, but his observations are useful for the avoidance of occupational hazards.He seems to be interested very much in his role. 4. The Occupational Medicine Doctor visits the factory rarely. Workers are seeking his advice regarding their health problems. 5. The inspection of work sites by him is not particularly satisfactory, but the specific points made by him are useful for the prevention of occupational hazards. He is interested enough in his role. CONCLUSION: The study provides important evidence regarding the actual involvement of Safety Engineering and Occupational Medicine professions in the regulation of working conditions in the Greek industrial sector. It constitutes, therefore, a solid ground for registering key elements of & Health management models in the Greek industry. LIMITS: The sample of the survey is small, but quite representative of the Greek industry reality. Statistical data provided by the Greek Labour Inspectorate provide the same general view for the status of the Safety Officers and Occupational Medicine Doctors in the Greek enterprises. CONTRIBUTION OF THE PROJECT TO THE FIELD: It is the first time that such an investigation has been conducted among Greek workers.
The Challenge of Occupational Safety and Health in Greece
This study examines the managerial challenges and economic contexts of occupational safety and health in Greece as a dimension of national labor standards and working conditions. Empirical data is provided to document areas of Greek occupational safety and health concern. Recommended Greek occupational safety and health best practices are provided to address workplace safety issues and promote sustained economic productivity. JEL classification numbers: J81, R41
Health and safety at work in Greece
The findings of a 2005 study by the Labour Institute (INE) of the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) and the Confederation of Public Servants (ADEDY) reveal significant problems in Greece as regards the implementation of legislation on health and safety at work. Risk prevention measures and safety and health practices are being ignored, while levels of monitoring are also inadequate. Moreover, many workers and managers are unaware of the relevant legislation, which is outdated and excessively complex in many cases. Infringement of normal working hours and illegal and/or legal overtime, as well as tight deadlines, have increased the levels of accidents in the workplace in recent years. The report recommends financial incentives and penalties, in addition to awareness-raising campaigns, to ensure greater compliance with health and safety legislation.