Ameliyathanede Görünmeyen Tehlikeler: Çalışan Güvenliğini Tehdit Eden Etmenler

Operating rooms are among the most complex, demanding, and risky work environments in healthcare. The use of high technology, invasive surgical procedures, frequent emergencies, intense workloads, and the simultaneous work of specialists from different disciplines contribute to the dynamic and stressful nature of this field. These characteristics expose operating room staff to numerous physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial risk factors. Physical risks include radiation, surgical smoke, sharps injuries, and noise, while chemical risks include exposure to anesthetic gases and the use of disinfectants. Biological hazards include the risk of infection transmitted through blood and body fluids, while ergonomic risks are associated with prolonged standing, awkward postures, and the use of heavy equipment. Psychosocial factors include stress, burnout, communication problems, and workload pressure. Employee safety not only protects the individual health of healthcare professionals but is also directly related to patient safety and quality of care. In this review, the risk factors to which operating room workers are exposed are discussed in light of the literature, current practices are discussed, and suggestions for improving safety culture are presented. Keywords: , employee safety, operating room nursing, occupational risks.