Background: Hospital janitors and custodians are low-status
workers exposed to various hazards. They have an incidence
rate of nonfatal occupational injuries of 107.5 per 10,000 fulltime workers. Objective: To investigate work-related health
hazards among hospital janitors and custodians. Method: A
cross-sectional study was conducted on 570 hospital janitors
and custodians using an interview questionnaire that consisted
of socio-demographic and occupational history, safety
practices and self-reported health hazards. Physical
examination and investigations were also conducted. Results:
the majority of participants )79.6%) had knowledge about
occupational hazards at work. The highest median risk analysis
score was among the ergonomic risk (high risk), and the least
were accident and physical risks (low risk). The nervous
system manifestations were the most prevalent self-reported
health hazard of 43.9%, and the least one is hepatitis C
infection by percentage of 9.5%. Statistically significant
negative correlations were found between different risk
analysis scores and personal protective clothing use and safe
work practices (P < .05). Statistically significant correlations
were found between diurnal variations in Peak Expiratory
Flow Rate with workplace safety behavior score, use of BMI, age duration of work (P < .05).
Conclusions: The most self-reported health problem was nervous system manifestation while
HCV was the least reported one. PEFR diurnal variation was mostly influenced by smoking
and least affected by the duration of work