Abstract:
Mortuary Attendants (MAs) have 100-200 times greater chance of experiencing
unknown threats while processing dead bodies (Chui, Chong, Chong, & Wagener,
2007). Therefore, there is the need to protect them from these threats. The purpose
of this study was to explore how the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
Policy Guideline of Ministry of Health (MoH) was influencing the work practices
of MAs in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis (STM). A descriptive qualitative
method was used to study the MAs. Three purposively sampled mortuary
facilities (Effman’s Clinic, Takoradi Hospital, Western Regional Hospital), with a
total population of 37 participants were studied. They included all the 16 MAs
and 21 Senior Hospital Officers as key informants on safety issues at the morgues.
A researcher-generated interview guide, Botha’s Interview Guide, and an adapted
mortuary assessment checklist were used to collect data. Qualitative content
analysis was used to analyse data, reporting the data verbatim and organising it
under themes based on the research objectives. The results revealed low
awareness and knowledge among MAs about the OHS Policy Guide of MoH.
Also, MAs in STM reported many health and safety hazards, which may
adversely affect their health conditions, especially at long-term. Further, managers
of health facilities in STM have not provided enough structures towards
improving safety working environment for MAs. Health managers in STM are
entreated to increase the provision of Personal Protective Equipment to MAs and
intensify monitoring and supervision of mortuary facilities.
