Healthcare workers’ perception of smartphone use at the workplace and its impact on occupational health and safety

Abstract

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) or Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) aims to improve and develop workplace health and safety standards, with the goal to offer suggestions for mitigating the risks and hazards workers encounter on the job (Safeopeadia, 2021). Smartphones have become an integral part of daily life, are considered essential tools and have become one of the most indispensable accessories of professional and social life Singh & Purohit (2012). Although smartphones have enabled healthcare settings to become more effective and timely, benefiting patients in their recovery process, conversely, smartphone outcomes may also be negative (Kossek & Lautsch, 2012; Pitichat, 2013; Sinhasane, 2018; Vearrier et al., 2018). Health and safety hazards of smartphones include physical hazards (such as radiation, heat and light), sleep and ergonomic, biological, psychosocial and addiction, risks concerning security, privacy, and worker distraction (Vearrier et al., 2018). This exploratory study aims to better understand the perception of healthcare professionals regarding smartphone use, including benefits and hazards and impact of its use on occupational health and safety. The research was underpinned by a phenomenological epistemology, which posits that people’s behaviour stems from their interpretation of the world (Braun & Clark, 2006). Qualitative research was selected since it enabled the exploration of a detailed understanding of perception by means of interviews (Smythe & Giddings, 2007). Thematic analysis was then employed. The findings, analysis and discussion in this research study convey that all interviewees agreed that mobile devices are essential tools however, smartphone use while healthcare workers perform their line of duty raises safety concerns. Primarily, participants were somewhat hesitant to mention any hazards which translated as lack of consciousness of the hazards smartphone use holds. However, on reflection they all mentioned some negative effects that smartphones may pose. Capturing employees' perception of workplace hazards in this study was important since safety involves workers’ knowledge and awareness of basic safety practices, hazards, risks, risk mitigation, implementation of control measures and establishing a culture of safety within the workplace (Leoni, 2010). Furthermore, employees' perception of workplace safety is the indicator of functioning workplace policies and thus enablesthe concerned entity to accordingly address the issues, to enhance quality of care and also patient and employee safety (Safeopedia, 2019).