The occupational biological risk perception of The Central Laboratory health workers at Akdeniz Üniversity Hospital and the related factors with biological risk assessment and risk analysis study

Purpose of the Study: The aim of the research is to determine the occupational biological hazards and the risks that they face with because of their working field and their duties, to determine their risk perception level, the factors affecting the risk perception and the relationship between these two parameters and to determine the prioritized objectives to prevent the existing hazards and potantiel risks by making risk analysis and risk assessments in Central Laboratory of Akdeniz University Hospital. Material Method: The research is cross-sectional study and carried out from 7th of February 2012 to 14th of February 2012.The universe of this research includes all the employees (n= 108) working in Central Laboratory in Akdeniz University. In this study, it has not done sampling so it has been reached all the employees. It has been investigated the biological risk factors and the risk perceptions that the workers are highly exposed that risks. Under the light of this findings, Biological Risk Analysis has been done. During the collecting research data, it has been used the face to face interview techniques and questionnaires. ?The Occupational Biological Risk Perception? on the employees working in Central Laboratory has been evaluated with Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Risk perception and socio demographic variables; the variables about working environment, working conditions and working relationships; behavioral characteristics; and the relation between the anxiety level and the level of knowledge about ionizing radiation are all examined. Data were analysed and compared by the number and percentage distribution; the mean values and the standard deviations. Findings: The participants' average age and average years of occupation are 36,87±7,56 and 13,64±8,51 respectively. Further, 26,9 percent of the participants are male, 84,3 percent of them are married and 68,5 percent of them have children and average number of children is 1,08±0,89. In the last two years, 70,4 percent of participants have been educated about the ?occupational risks?. The occupational biological risk perception of the participants has been found as 7,88±1,98. The mean level of general anxiety due to the working with biological materials has appeared 7,00±2,26; the mean total knowledge score has been established 10,62±2,41. Positive correlation in medium level has been found between the general life anxiety, anxiety level on the health problem due to the working with the biological materials, knowledge score, age and risk perception. In our study, there is positive correlation in medium level between the knowledge score on biological risks and occupational biological risk perception. It has been found that with total knowledge score increase, risk perception also increases. When considering the average risk perception according to the age groups, it has been found that there is higher significant difference in 36-58 age group compared to the 22-35 age group. It has been found that there is not significant difference between having child and the risk perception. However, it has been found significant difference between the number of child having and the risk perception. There is significant difference between the profession and professional experience. The perception level of the participant having professional experience of 11 years and more is higher than the ones who have professional experience of 0-4 years and 5-10 years. The risk assessment is the method that includes the subjectivity in accordance with the risk perception of individuals, their knowledge and education level and their duties in the work. This study shows that during the process of risk assessment, it is crucial to be considered the occupational risk perception of the employees. It is required to evaluate the risk analysis studies with the risk perception concept. It is suggested that this issue can be studied in future studies with larger populations