Research Article

Occupational Accidents Experienced by Pathology Laboratory Employees in Türkiye

Volume: 10 Number: 1 April 30, 2026
TR EN

Occupational Accidents Experienced by Pathology Laboratory Employees in Türkiye

Abstract

Pathology laboratory professionals are frequently exposed to diverse occupational hazards including chemical and physical risks. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of occupational accidents and identify determinants influencing their occurrence in pathology laboratories. A structured, self-reported online survey was administered to 486 laboratory personnel—comprising consultant pathologists, residents, and laboratory technicians—working in secondary and tertiary care centers across Türkiye. Of the 486 participants, 364 (74.9%) reported having experienced at least one occupational incident. However, fewer than half of these incidents were recognized as occupational accidents (p < 0.001) and only 27.5% were officially reported. The pathologists had a significantly higher accident rate (78.6%) than assistant health personnels (69.9%) (p = 0.029). Multivariate analysis revealed that the odds of experiencing an accident were 1.73 times higher among pathologists compared to allied health personnel (p = 0.029). Furthermore, the risk of occupational accidents was inversely correlated with professional tenure. It has been determined that all laboratory workers, especially pathologists, are at risk of occupational accidents. Clear definitions of occupational accidents and increased awareness of preventive strategies are essential. The education of laboratory staff on safety protocols should be prioritized and the importance of timely reporting to occupational health and safety units should be emphasized in interventions.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

There is no person/organization that financially supports the study and the authors have no conflict of interest.

Project Number

2021/461

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Karabük University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Protocol No: 2021/461). Participant anonymity and data confidentiality were strictly maintained. No personally identifiable information was collected, and participants were informed of their right to withdraw from the study at any point without consequences. All data were securely stored on password-protected servers accessible only to the research team.

Thanks

We would like to thank the federation of pathology societies for contributing to the delivery of our questionnaire to the pathology workers.

References

  1. P. Carneiro, A. C. Braga, and R. Cabuço, “Professionals working in operating rooms: A characterization of biological and chemical risks,” Work, vol. 64, no. 4, pp. 869–876, 2019, doi: 10.3233/WOR-193027.
  2. G. D. Nielsen, S. T. Larsen, and P. Wolkoff, “Re-evaluation of the WHO (2010) formaldehyde indoor air quality guideline for cancer risk assessment,” Archives of Toxicology, vol. 91, no. 1, pp. 35–61, 2017, doi: 10.1007/s00204-016-1733-8.
  3. Republic of Türkiye Social Security Institution, “About occupational exposure,” Jun. 25, 2021.
  4. C.-M. Hsieh, C.-J. Chen, T.-T. Peng, S. Chen, and P.-H. Chen, “The relationship between workplace justice and self-reported occupational accidents in construction employees of Taiwan,” Industrial Health, vol. 58, no. 3, pp. 282–286, 2020, doi: 10.2486/indhealth.2019-0131.
  5. F. R. Fritzsche et al., “Occupational health risks of pathologists—results from a nationwide online questionnaire in Switzerland,” BMC Public Health, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 1–12, 2012, doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-1054.
  6. T. N. Hanvold et al., “Occupational safety and health among young workers in the Nordic countries: A systematic literature review,” Safety and Health at Work, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 3–20, 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2018.12.003.
  7. A. Turkkan and K. Pala, “Trends in occupational injuries and fatality in Turkey,” International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 457–462, 2016, doi: 10.1080/10803548.2016.1153224.
  8. F. Ç. U. Küçük and A. Ilgaz, “Causes of coal mine accidents in the world and Turkey,” Turkish Thoracic Journal, vol. 16, suppl. 1, p. S9, 2015, doi: 10.5152/ttd.2015.003.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Occupation and Workplace Health and Safety

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

April 30, 2026

Submission Date

October 25, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 3, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 1

APA
Özdemir, H. G., Özdemir, M., Basar, M., & Doğruyol Akin, M. N. (2026). Occupational Accidents Experienced by Pathology Laboratory Employees in Türkiye. Karaelmas Journal of Occupational Health and Safety, 10(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.33720/kisgd.1803023
AMA
1.Özdemir HG, Özdemir M, Basar M, Doğruyol Akin MN. Occupational Accidents Experienced by Pathology Laboratory Employees in Türkiye. kisgd. 2026;10(1):1-9. doi:10.33720/kisgd.1803023
Chicago
Özdemir, Hanife Gülnihal, Mikail Özdemir, Merve Basar, and Makbule Nur Doğruyol Akin. 2026. “Occupational Accidents Experienced by Pathology Laboratory Employees in Türkiye”. Karaelmas Journal of Occupational Health and Safety 10 (1): 1-9. https://doi.org/10.33720/kisgd.1803023.
EndNote
Özdemir HG, Özdemir M, Basar M, Doğruyol Akin MN (April 1, 2026) Occupational Accidents Experienced by Pathology Laboratory Employees in Türkiye. Karaelmas Journal of Occupational Health and Safety 10 1 1–9.
IEEE
[1]H. G. Özdemir, M. Özdemir, M. Basar, and M. N. Doğruyol Akin, “Occupational Accidents Experienced by Pathology Laboratory Employees in Türkiye”, kisgd, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 1–9, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.33720/kisgd.1803023.
ISNAD
Özdemir, Hanife Gülnihal - Özdemir, Mikail - Basar, Merve - Doğruyol Akin, Makbule Nur. “Occupational Accidents Experienced by Pathology Laboratory Employees in Türkiye”. Karaelmas Journal of Occupational Health and Safety 10/1 (April 1, 2026): 1-9. https://doi.org/10.33720/kisgd.1803023.
JAMA
1.Özdemir HG, Özdemir M, Basar M, Doğruyol Akin MN. Occupational Accidents Experienced by Pathology Laboratory Employees in Türkiye. kisgd. 2026;10:1–9.
MLA
Özdemir, Hanife Gülnihal, et al. “Occupational Accidents Experienced by Pathology Laboratory Employees in Türkiye”. Karaelmas Journal of Occupational Health and Safety, vol. 10, no. 1, Apr. 2026, pp. 1-9, doi:10.33720/kisgd.1803023.
Vancouver
1.Hanife Gülnihal Özdemir, Mikail Özdemir, Merve Basar, Makbule Nur Doğruyol Akin. Occupational Accidents Experienced by Pathology Laboratory Employees in Türkiye. kisgd. 2026 Apr. 1;10(1):1-9. doi:10.33720/kisgd.1803023