Risk assessment in Karadeniz Technical University Medical Faculty Pathology Laboratory

Health sector comprises intensive labor including lot of risks which should be dealt with continuously. Pathology laboratories are also a part of these services and includes unique risks in addition to those risks in other services. The aim of our study is identifying the hazards and risks at pathology laboratory, assessing and classifying the risks, offering solutions about primary problems and emphasise the importance of risk assessment in health care services and enabling to discuss this subject in academic platform. The investigation conducted between September 2014 – June 2016 at Pathology Laboratory of Karadeniz Technical University Medical Faculty. Thirty of 31 staff participated to investigation. Pathology laboratory work divided into processes by using Job Safety Analysis. Work anamnesis performed to participants and received video records while they were working. Noise, illuminance, thermal comfort, formaldehyde and xylene measurements performed in workplace. Quick Exposure Check Scale used for assessing ergonomic risks and Organisational Stress Scale used for assessing physicosocial risks. Degrees of the risks evaluated by using 5x5 L Type Matris method. According to this risk assessment the risks about fire, splash risks of formaldehyde and xylene, biological risks at specimen acceptance, frozen section, citology and electron microscopy, ergonomic risks and physicosocial risks evaluated as "moderate" risk. Also the staff preparing the formalin solution (10%) and cleaning out the pots containing formaldehyde with specimens were at "moderate" risk. The staff working at specimen acceptance unit and cleaning process have much work load. Most of the staff did not heard about material safety data sheets, almost half of the participants experienced at least one occupational accident, all of the participants working at makroscopy and microtome units experinced at least one hand injury, and they normalised these accidents. All of the participants complains about odors in work place. One/third of the participants have not Hepatit B immunisation and only one/six of the participants have tetanos immunisation. Necessary regulations have not performed about fire risk. Lack of education about occupational health and safety is a serious problem. According to law no. 6331 "Occupational Health and Safety" came in the force at June 2012, all institutions have to ensure occupational health and safety service but there was not any service about occupational health and safety at the hospital this investigation performed. The essential risk control measures should be implemented as soon as possible to reduce the risks mentioned above. In the light of all these results it is necessary to establish an occupational health and safety system immediately in our hospital as it was stated at our legislation. Key Words: Risk assessment, pathology laboratory, occupational health and safety.