Assessment of health and safety insights among teachers of public schools

Background: This study assessed the knowledge and safety practices of public-school teachers in the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The education system in the UAE is relatively new and has been the subject of academic debate for the past decade. Safety awareness refers to perceptions and assessments of the abilities and responsibilities of employees to mitigate risks in the workplace. This study assessed safety related to educational institutions, the efficiency of the safety training process imparted by the stakeholders for the teachers, and the extent to which schools in Sharjah are applying and are committed to the safety standards, policies, and procedures. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used that encompassed public schools in the Emirate of Sharjah, UAE. Data were collected from 271 respondents using an online questionnaire prepared in English, Arabic, or Chinese. Results: The results revealed that more than 90% of the respondents had strong knowledge and awareness of health and safety in their workplace, specifically within the school community. Social demographic factors were not associated with this awareness, except for the perceived importance of occupational health and safety. Sex is a significant factor in awareness of the importance of health and safety of employees and students ( P < 0.019). Conclusion: We conclude that there is excellent awareness of occupational health and safety among teachers in the education sector in the Emirate of Sharjah, UAE. The results of this study emphasize the importance of safety policies, safety training, and safety committees to improving safety culture at educational institutions.