Educational gaps and compliance with occupational hazards of blood-borne pathogens at workplace among healthcare workers

Background: Globally, healthcare personnel play a crucial role in ensuring patient safety, yet their practices and compliance with infection control measures often vary. Limited training and exposure to occupational hazards, such as needle stick injuries, further complicate efforts to maintain a safe healthcare environment. Aim: The main objective of the current study is to assess the demographic characteristics, training status, and infection control practices among healthcare personnel to identify gaps and recommend improvements. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare personnel; data were collected on demographics, job characteristics, training in infection control, occupational hazards, and practice grades. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were analyzed using SPSS. Results: The study included 112 participants, with 51.8% males and 58.0% Saudi nationals. Most were aged 31–40 years (44.6%). Only 17.0% had received training on infection control, while 62.5% reported experiencing needle stick injuries. Job roles were evenly split between specialized and general duties (50% each). Nurses comprised the largest group (45.5%), and 51.8% held graduate qualifications. Practice grades showed that 54.5% demonstrated "Good" practices, while 45.5% fell into the "Poor" category. Conclusion: The study highlights critical gaps in infection control training and compliance, particularly in high-risk departments. Addressing these gaps through enhanced education programs, resource allocation, and policy enforcement is essential to improve workplace safety and reduce occupational hazards.