Prevalence and Comparative Analysis of Occupational Hazards Among Healthcare Workers in Public Hospitals Located in Rural and Urban Areas of KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa

Occupational hazards are conditions surrounding a work environment that increase the probability of death, disability, or illness for a worker. This study assessed the incidence of occupational hazards among healthcare workers (HCWs) in rural and urban areas of KwaZulu‐Natal (KZN). A descriptive cross‐sectional design was employed using self‐administered, semi‐structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t ‐tests, and chi‐square tests were used to compare hazard exposure between rural and urban HCWs. Out of the 215 participants, 98.6% reported exposure to physical hazards, 96.7% to biological, 94.4% to ergonomic, and 23.7% to chemical. Although no statistically significant differences in overall hazard exposure were found between the two settings, this finding must be interpreted with caution due to study limitations. There was no significant association between having received training on the use of medical equipment and feeling safe at work ( χ 2 [4] = 5.673, p = 0.225, Cramer’s V = 0.163). This study outlined the critical focus areas in healthcare, occupational health, and safety that are in desperate need of sustainable remedial action. This can provide valuable insights for formulating policies and making decisions in state‐owned healthcare facilities.