Occupational safety and wellbeing of social workers in the era of COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a safe working environment is essential for health care workers such as social workers and even the clients they serve. The study examined occupational safety and wellbeing among social workers in Lagos and Ibadan, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used for the study while a self-constructed validated questionnaire was sent on-line to social workers working in isolation centres and hospital concerned with the treatment of COVID19 patients. Four research questions were formulated for the study while descriptive statistics of percentages frequency tables, mean and standard deviation scores and inferential statistic of multiple regressions was used to analyse the data. Result revealed that provision of protective personal equipment such as face mask, hand sanitizer (β = -0.672, t = -5.606, p < 0.05) and safe work environment (β = 0.657, t = 5.480, p < 0.05) significantly predicted the wellbeing of social workers. Based on these findings, the study recommended that there is need for the implementation of safe workplace practices to limit exposure social workers to COVID19. Based on these findings,  healthcare centres should ensure adequate provision and maintenance of protective safety equipment and ensure that standards are not  compromised; health workers should be properly trained on the use of protective equipment.

Key Terms: occupational safety, wellbeing, social workers, COVID-19, pandemic, Nigeria