Background:

   Healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed to a wide range of occupational hazards, including biological, chemical, physical, ergonomic, and psychosocial risks, which may result in work-related injuries and adverse occupational outcomes. Occupational injuries among HCWs remain a significant global occupational health concern due to their potential impact on workers’ health, healthcare workforce sustainability, healthcare costs, and patient safety. Despite ongoing improvements in occupational health and safety programs in Saudi Arabia, multicenter evidence regarding the epidemiology, severity, and outcomes of occupational injuries among HCWs remains limited.

Objective:

  This study aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics, patterns, severity, and occupational outcomes of occupational injuries among healthcare workers in selected hospitals in the Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia, and to identify factors associated with injury severity.

Methods:

  A multicenter retrospective observational study was conducted using occupational injury records from 24 healthcare facilities in the Aseer Region between January 2022 and June 2024.

  A total of 806 documented occupational injury cases among healthcare workers were included. Data regarding demographic characteristics, healthcare profession, injury type, affected body region, injury severity, work absence duration, management, and occupational outcomes were extracted from institutional occupational health records and analyzed.

    Descriptive statistics were used to summarize injury characteristics. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using Pearson’s chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results:

   Among the 806 reported occupational injuries, nurses represented the largest proportion of affected healthcare workers (57.7%). Wounds and lacerations were the most frequently reported injury types (73.0%), followed by biological exposures related to infectious diseases (4.7%), confirmed occupational COVID-19 infection (4.3%), and needlestick injuries (4.1%).

  The upper extremities were the most commonly affected anatomical region (78.4%). Most occupational injuries were classified as mild (69.6%), and the majority of affected healthcare workers experienced no work absence following injury (84.4%). Complete recovery with return to previous duties was documented in 97.8% of cases. Injury severity was significantly associated with injury type and affected body region (p < 0.001); however, no statistically significant associations were identified between injury severity and age, Gender, nationality, or healthcare profession.

Conclusion:

   Occupational injuries among healthcare workers in the Aseer Region were predominantly mild and were associated with favorable occupational outcomes. Nevertheless, differences in injury severity according to injury mechanism and anatomical location highlight the need for targeted preventive strategies focusing on high-risk injury categories and vulnerable body regions.

    Strengthening occupational injury surveillance systems, safety training, and workplace prevention programs may further improve healthcare worker safety in Saudi healthcare facilities.

Keywords: Occupational injuries; Healthcare workers; Occupational health; Workplace safety; Injury severity; Healthcare safety; Saudi Arabia; Multicenter retrospective study.