During the COVID-19 pandemic, significant cases of violence, intimidation, or stigmatization were targeted at healthcare workers (HCWs), patients, and medical infrastructure. These occurrences were most likely just the “tip of the iceberg,” with much more remaining unnoticed. The present study’s purpose was to assess the frequency, characteristics, effects, and contributing factors of workplace violence (WPV) committed against HCWs in AlKarak Governmental Hospital (KGH), South Jordan, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 382 HCWs (170 physicians and 212 nurses) working in the KGH, Jordan, during January and February 2021, using a semi-structured questionnaire. The current study showed that most participants (65.5%) reported exposure to WPV, mainly verbal violence (52.0%), and patients’ relatives were the principal perpetrators in most incidents. The regular reporting of these incidents is deficient. The victims suffered psychological and physical effects. These assaults on healthcare facilities highlight the importance of effective risk communication at all levels of society to minimize anxiety, stigma, and, eventually, WPV. The way we communicate about COVID-19 is vital in motivating people to take proactive steps to fight the disease and safeguard healthcare.

Background: Construction is a dangerous industry, with high rates of fatal and non-fatal injuries. Although, safety climate has been linked with safety performance and work-related accidents, yet it is scarcely studied and considered in injury prevention programs in developing countries. So, the objectives of this study are to find out the magnitude, pattern and risk factors of non-fatal occupational injuries among a sample of construction building workers and to explore the level of safety climate and its relationship with occupational injuries. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 91 workers, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, in 18 large construction sites in Mit-Ghamr city, Dakahlia Governorate. Data about socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, description of occupational injuries, and work-related and behavioral risk factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. Results: Occupational injuries in the past 12 months were reported by 46.2% of workers. The most common body parts injured were upper and lower limbs (31.0% and 26.2%). The majority of injuries were cuts/lacerations (30.9%) and contusions (28.6%). Falls (47.6%) and injuries by manual tools (23.8%) were the main causes of injuries. The majority of injured workers (90.5%) reported complete recovery after the most serious injury. The average of working days was lost per year due to occupational injuries (18.6 ± 7.8 days/year). None of the injured workers reported receiving sufficient first-aid treatment at worksite or filling an accident notification form. Extended working hours, poor safety climate, short duration of work, job dissatisfaction, young age, and job stress were significant risk factors of occupational injuries. Conclusion: Non-fatal occupational injuries are common among this sample of construction workers with significant relation to extended working hours and poor safety climate and other risk factors. So, it is important to build upon this research in order to help develop successful policies to prevent work-related injuries and promote safer work practices for construction building workers.

Hairdressers are chronically exposed to several occupational hazards during their work including potentially genotoxic chemicals. Hair dying, hair smoothening and straightening products are hazardous chemicals that affect human health and are frequently used in beauty salons. So, this study aimed to evaluate the genotoxic risk among the studied hairdressers, to estimate the level of p-phenylenediamine (p-PDA) in urine and to assess the degree of adherence of the studied hairdressers to occupational safety measures at work. A comparative cross sectional study was carried out on 40 hairdressers working in beauty salons in Zagazig city, Egypt and 40 administrative staff at faculty of medicine as a control group. The results of the study revealed a significant increase in mean concentration of urinary p-PDA as well as significant increase in DNA damage assessed by Comet assay in lymphocytes among studied hairdressers than among their controls. Also, there was a statistically significant decrease in adherence to most of the occupational safety precaution measures that should be followed by the studied hairdressers. The significant risk factors of high Comet total mean score among the studied hairdressers were occupational use of hair straightening ≥8 times/week, use of hair dyes at work ≥15 times/week, length of service ≥13 years, negligence of wearing gloves during work, use of bleaching agents ≥12/week and negligence of hand wash after handling chemicals. So, it was concluded that the hairdressers are occupationally exposed to the risk of genotoxic hazards from chemicals frequently used in their work. The lack of commitment to occupational safety measures at beauty salons like wearing gloves during work and hand washing increases the risk of genotoxicity.