Safety Climate and Practices in University Laboratories: Evidence from a Ghanaian Case Study
Abstract:
Academic laboratories in developing
countries face numerous occupational health and safety (OHS) challenges due to
limited resources, diverse hazards, and often underdeveloped safety systems.
This study was conducted to evaluate the safety climate, occupational health
and safety (OHS) knowledge, attitudes, and practices of laboratory workers in
academic laboratories at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. This
cross-sectional study used the Nordic Safety Climate Questionnaire (NOSACQ-50),
a standard questionnaire, direct workplace observations, and a decision matrix
risk assessment to identify and evaluate hazards. The study was conducted in
academic laboratories across three colleges at the University of Cape Coast,
Ghana. The study included 104 laboratory staff members with at least one year
of work experience in laboratory settings. Participants demonstrated high knowledge
of OHS (mean score: 12.94 ± 2.76) and awareness (12.42 ± 2.39), but poor safety
practices (12.06 ± 4.48) and inconsistent use of personal protective equipment
(PPE). The overall safety climate score was low (2.45 ± 0.71), with
management's safety commitment and justice rated poorly. Observations revealed
inadequate PPE availability, lack of ergonomic infrastructure, and absence of
incident reporting systems. High-risk hazards, including chemical inhalation,
musculoskeletal injuries, and chemical splashes, were identified with risk
scores of 20 each. The findings reveal significant gaps between OHS knowledge
and safety practices in academic laboratories. These gaps highlight the need
for improved resource allocation, stronger management engagement, enhanced
safety training, and the establishment of dedicated OHS units to foster safer
working environments and promote a robust safety culture in academic
institutions.
References:
[2].
Mearns, K. J., & Flin, R., 1999, Assessing
the state of organizational safety—culture or climate? Curr. Psychol,
18(1), 5–17, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-999-1013-3
[3].
Probst, T. M., Goldenhar, L. M., Byrd, J. L.,
& Betit, E., 2019, The Safety Climate Assessment Tool (S-CAT): A
rubric-based approach to measuring construction safety climate. J. Saf. Res,
69, 43-51, ISSN 0022-4375, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2019.02.004
[4].
Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 2011, Measuring
the safety climate in organizations. Available from
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://books.hse.gov.uk/gempdf/Measuring_the_Safety_Climate_in_Organisations.pdf
[5].
Loh, M. Y., Dollard, M. F., McLinton, S. S.,
& Brough, P., 2024, Translating psychosocial safety climate (PSC) into
real-world practice: two PSC intervention case studies. JOH, 66 (1):
uiae051, https://doi.org/10.1093/joccuh/uiae051
[6].
Kines, P., Lappalainen, J., Mikkelsen, K. L.,
Olsen, E., Pousette, A., Tharaldsen, J., Tómasson, K., & Törner, M., 2011, Nordic
Safety Climate Questionnaire (NOSACQ-50): A new tool for diagnosing
occupational safety climate. Int. J. Ind. Ergon, 41(6): 634–646, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2011.08.004
[7].
Minister, A., 2015, Unsafe science. NFPA
J, Available at http://www.nfpa.org/ newsandpublications/nfpa-journal/
2015/september-october2015/ features/unsafe-science
[8]. Singh,
K., 2009, Laboratory‐Acquired Infections. Clin. Infect. Dis, 49(1) : 142–147, https://doi.org/10.1086/599104
[9].
Al-Abhar, N., Al-Gunaid, E., Moghram, G.,
Al-Hababi, A. A., Al Serouri, A., & Khader, Y. S., 2017, Knowledge and
Practice of Biosafety Among Laboratory Staff Working in Clinical Laboratories
in Yemen. Appl Biosaf, 22(4): 168–171, https://doi.org/10.1177/1535676017733451
[10].
Fadeyi, A., Fowotade, A., Abiodun, M. O.,
Jimoh, A. K., Nwabuisi, C., & Desalu, O. O., 2011, Awareness and practice
of safety precautions among healthcare workers in the laboratories of two
public health facilities in Nigeria. Niger. Postgrad. Med. J, 18(2):
141–146.
[11].
Vaz, K., McGrowder, D., Alexander-Lindo, R.,
Gordon, L., Brown, P., & Irving, R., 2010, Knowledge, awareness and
compliance with universal precautions among health care workers at the
University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica. Int J Occup Environ Med,
1(4):171–181.
[12].
Lestari, F., Bowolaksono, A., Yuniautami,
S., Wulandari, T. R., & Andani, S., 2019, Evaluation of the implementation
of occupational health, safety, and environment management systems in higher
education laboratories. J. Chem.Health Saf, 26(4–5): 14–19, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchas.2018.12.006
[13].
Mugivhisa, L. L., Baloyi, K., & Oluwole
Olowoyo, J., 2021, Adherence to safety practices and risks associated with
toxic chemicals in the research and postgraduate laboratories at Sefako
Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa. Afr J Sci
Technol Innov Dev, 13(6): 747–756, https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2020.1797269
[14].
Roghani, M., Haroon, Z. H., Munir, M. U.,
Kirmani, S. I., Anwar, M., & Younas, M., 2023, Laboratory Safety Climate
Assessment and its Correlation with Safety Procedures Amongst Staff of a
Reference Clinical Laboratory. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak, 33(11):
1259–1263, https://doi.org/10.29271/jcpsp.2023.11.1259
[15].
Aluko, O. O., Adebayo, A. E., Adebisi, T. F.,
Ewegbemi, M. K., Abidoye, A. T., & Popoola, B. F., 2016, Knowledge,
attitudes and perceptions of occupational hazards and safety practices in
Nigerian healthcare workers. BMC Res Notes, 9(1), https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-016-1880-2
[16].
Det Nationale Forskningscenter for
Arbejdsmiljø, 2024, Interpreting the Nordic Occupational Safety Climate
Questionnaire NOSACQ-50 results. Available at Https://Nfa.Dk/Vaerktoejer/Spoergeskemaer.
[17].
Alshalani, A. J., & Salama, K. F.,
2019, Assessment of Occupational Safety Practices Among Medical Laboratory
Staff in Governmental Hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. J. Saf. Stud,
5(1): 1-23, https://doi.org/10.5296/jss.v5i1.14992
[18].
Uca, M., & Alizadehebadi, L., 2021,
Risk Analysis and Assessment Using Decision Matrix Risk Assessment Technique in
Sports: The Case of Boxing. PJMHS, 15(10): 2971–2976, https://doi.org/10.53350/pjmhs2115102971
[19].
Prah, J. K., Aggrey, E., Kudom, A., &
Addo‑Yeboa, B., 2025, Assessment of occupational risks among academic staff in
a Ghanaian public university. Texila Int J Public Health, 13(2), Doi:10.21522/TIJPH.2013.13.02.Art001.
[20].
Moda, H. M., Dama, F. M., Nwadike, C.,
Alatni, B. S., Adewoye, S. O., Sawyerr, H., Doka, P. J. S., & Danjin, M., 2021,
Assessment of Workplace Safety Climate among Healthcare Workers during the
COVID-19 Pandemic in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Case Study of Nigeria. Healthcare,
9(6): 661, https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9060661
[21].
Paul, E., Abidin, E. Z., Mahmmud, N. A.,
& Ismail, N. H., 2022, Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on
Occupational Safety and Health among Laboratory Workers in OSHMS Certified and
Non-Certified Public Universities in Malaysia. MJMHS, 18(5): 3–12, https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs18.5.2
[22].
Alquraini, R. A., Allehyani, M. M., Wasl,
M., Almogati, S., Alsulami, A. A., Alsulami, B. O., Alotaibi, Y. M. S.,
Alotaibi, F. F. M., & Almalki, M. Y., 2022, Assessment of Knowledge,
Attitude, and Practice on Laboratory Occupational Safety and Health among
Healthcare Workers. JPPW, 6(2): 2735–2743, http://journalppw.com
[23].
Nasab, H. S., Ghofranipour, F., Kazemnejad,
A., Khavanin, A., & Tavakoli, R., 2009, Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitude
and Behavior of Workers towards Occupational Health and Safety. Iran J
Public Health, 38(2):125-129.
[24].
Ayi, H. R., & Hon, C. Y., 2018, Safety
culture and safety compliance in academic laboratories: A Canadian perspective.
J. Chem.Health Saf, 25(6): 6–12, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchas.2018.05.002
[25].
Schröder, I., Huang, D. Y. Q., Ellis, O.,
Gibson, J. H., & Wayne, N. L., 2016, Laboratory safety attitudes and
practices: A comparison of academic, government, and industry researchers. J.
Chem.Health Saf, 23(1):12–23, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchas.2015.03.001
[26].
Wilde, G. J. S., 1998, Risk homeostasis
theory: an overview: Figure 1. Inj. Prev, 4(2): 89–91, https://doi.org/10.1136/ip.4.2.89
[27].
Enwere, O. O., & Diwe, K. C., 2014, Knowledge,
perception and practice of injection safety and healthcare waste management
among teaching hospital staff in southeast Nigeria: an intervention study. Pan
Afr. med. J, 17:218, https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2014.17.218.3084
