Occupational Risk Factor of Exposure to Biological Agents Using Direct Observation Epidemiological Techniques in a Clinical Laboratory

Exposure to biohazards in healthcare settings is very common, but their handling increases in the clinical laboratory environment, and maintaining an organised control of biosafety standards will provide protection for healthcare workers. The following study will focus on the occupational risk factors caused by biological agents to which professionals working in the clinical laboratory of the Hospital Básico del Ángel are exposed. This study will be carried out using the Biogaval - Neo 2018 method. For data collection in the period from June to December 2022, by means of field observation using the mixed qualitative-quantitative-quantitative- quantitative descriptive methodology with which we will identify the work areas with the greatest presence of occupational risk. The Biogaval method is intended to serve as a guide for technical personnel in occupational risk prevention to analyse the different areas in which there is a probability of biological risk, as well as to guide the implementation and execution of preventive and control measures. In the different areas of the laboratory, workers had accidents with biological agents with possible contagion with microorganisms through punctures, lacerations or cuts, including inhalation of aerosols and contact with contaminated material. In view of these risk factors, it is necessary to evaluate the conditions in which they work, as it will be the beginning of a series of decisions that will improve the performance of institutions working under these risks.