Exposure to laboratory hazards and associated factors among learners in secondary schools in the greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, Uganda

Abstract

Global, regional, and local agendas are striving to promote Science Technology and Innovation which requires safe learning environments such as laboratories. Laboratory safety remains a growing occupational health and safety concern in schools, amidst the increase in learners’ enrollment. Learners are vulnerable because they are adolescents who are eager to explore, love to experiment, take risks and also make risky decisions. However, little is known about laboratory hazard exposure, their knowledge, perceptions, attitudes and practices regarding laboratory exposure and associated factors among learners. Study aim: To determine the exposure to laboratory hazards among learners in secondary schools with their associated factors, and explore the barriers and facilitators to the promotion of laboratory safety in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area. Methods: A concurrent triangulation mixed methods design was used to collect data from 587 learners from 6 randomly selected secondary schools in Wakiso, Kampala and Mukono districts. Learners also participated in 4 Focus Group Discussions and 6 Key Informants were included. Data were analysed using STATA 15.0 and Atlas ti version 24 Results: The overall prevalence of exposure to laboratory hazards was 76.2% (29.2% for physical, 44.5% for chemical, 52.8% for biological and 37.7% for ergonomic). Uncertainty about laboratory dangers (aPRR=1.22, p=0.000), positive perceived severity (aPRR=0.86, p=0.003), low selfefficacy (aPRR=1.2, p=0.018) and good laboratory practices (aPRR=0.89, p=0.014) were significantly associated with exposure to laboratory hazards. Additionally, facilitators of laboratory safety included authoritative strategies such as punishments for misbehaviour in the laboratory and supervision. The barriers to the promotion of laboratory safety included congestion in the laboratory, and no pinned rules and regulations among others. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of exposure to laboratory hazards among learners. Secondary schools should consider revising their regulations and establishing learner-oriented strategies to promote laboratory safety