Worker knowledge of occupational legislation and related health and safety benefits.
Mogale L Pilusa, Mataniele S Mogotlane
PMID 30035602WHAT IT FOUND
Only 18 of 110 workers knew occupational legislation, and 92 said they received no regular training.
Most could not name a single relevant act. Workers with no or primary education faced particular barriers understanding legislation written in English.
Key findings
01Only 18 of 110 respondents (16.36%) indicated they were knowledgeable about occupational legislation.
0282 of 110 respondents (74.54%) did not know a single occupational act.
0392 respondents (83.64%) indicated there were no regular sessions for teaching occupational legislation at their work settings.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (110 workers) and drawn from only four specific work settings in one town in South Africa, limiting generalisability. Sampling was non-probability (convenient and purposive), introducing selection bias. Knowledge was self-reported via questionnaire, which may not reflect actual understanding or application of legislation. The study describes associations (e.g., education level vs knowledge) but cannot prove causation.
Declared interests
Not reported in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the low knowledge scores as evidence that legislation is ineffective or that nurses should change clinical care protocols. This is a descriptive survey of workforce awareness in a specific South African context, not an evaluation of clinical outcomes or nursing interventions.