Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Ahmed Riyadh Farhan ¹
• Hussein Mansour Ali Al-Tameemi ²

¹ Department of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Kufa, Iraq

² Community Health Nursing Branch PhD in Nursing Faculty of Nursing, University of Kufa, Iraq

Abstract

Background: Industrial work environments, such as cement factories, present considerable occupational hazards. Occupational safety knowledge and first aid proficiency are essential for ensuring comprehensive workplace safety. Knowledge of safety mitigates the risks, whereas first aid offers prompt assistance. Despite advancements, gaps remain in workers’ integrated knowledge of safety and emergency response. An integrated understanding is crucial for implementing effective safety practices. This study aimed to assess the knowledge level of 
cement factory workers in Iraq regarding occupational safety and first aid. More importantly, we sought to establish the relationship between their knowledge in these two areas and aimed to determine whether a correlation existed between the workers’ demographic characteristics and their knowledge.
Methods: A descriptive quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted between December 26, 2024, and February 28, 2025, using a convenience sampling technique. The study included 350 workers recruited from five cement factories in the Middle Euphrates region of Iraq. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire consisting of three main sections: socio-demographic characteristics, occupational safety knowledge, and first aid knowledge. The validity of the instrument was established through expert review, and its reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, and the Kruskal–Walli’s test. 
Results: The study showed disparate degrees of expertise in both domains. The general proficiency in first aid was assessed as “Fair” (mean score 1.31), revealing deficiencies in areas such as burns and bone injuries. Statistically significant correlations were observed between the workers’ knowledge of first aid and their understanding of workplace safety. Moreover, substantial 
correlations were identified between their knowledge in both areas and their socio-demographic features (e.g., age, level of education, and years of service).
Conclusion: The results demonstrated a significant association between occupational safety and workers’ first aid knowledge in the cement industry. Persistent gaps in first aid awareness 
emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive, practical training programs tailored to address these deficiencies. Such programs must be specifically designed to meet the diverse needs of the 
workforce to foster a robust safety culture, with special attention to employees with lower educational backgrounds or limited experience. Moreover, these findings demonstrate the value of implementing clear policies and strategies aligned with international safety standards, such as those advocated by the International Labor Organization and the World Health Organization, to institutionalize safety procedures effectively. Integrating recommendations for occupational safety into factory regulations will promote adherence and systematic risk management. Economically, improving first aid and safety knowledge can lead to reduced workplace injuries, minimizing lost workdays and associated costs, thereby enhancing overall productivity and operational efficiency. This underscores the value of investing in ongoing safety education to protect employees and optimize industrial performance.

Highlights

Ahmed Riyadh Farhan (Google Scholar)

Keywords

• First Aid
• Occupational Safety
• Knowledge
• Occupational Health
• Industrial Workers