Safety climate dimensions associated with occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens in nurses

The present study focused on three specific safety climate dimensions that were hypothesized to play an important role in promoting safe work practices in nurses, an occupational group clearly at risk for accidental exposure to blood-borne pathogens. The safety climate dimensions investigated were: management commitment to safety, job hindrances, and feedback/training. In this study, nurses were categorized according to their (a) safety-related work practices (low vs. high compliance with UP), and (b) recent accidents/injuries possibly involving exposure to blood-borne pathogens (non-exposed vs. exposed). These groups were then compared according to their perceptions of the hospital's three dimensions of safety climate. A major issue addressed in this study was whether compliance with UP would be associated with the same safety climate dimensions as accidents/injuries.