Use of Participatory Ergonomics to Ensure the Safety of Patients and Healthcare Workers in Cancer Care Settings; PECS Framework

In contemporary cancerCancercareCare settings, ensuring the safety of patients and healthcareHealthcare workers is paramount. This study introduces the Participatory ErgonomicsErgonomics for Cancer Safety (PECS) frameworkFramework, which emphasizes the involvement of all stakeholders in enhancing work environments and safety protocols. By integrating participatory ergonomics, the study aims to address both process-related and organization-related safety issues, which are often overlooked in traditional safety culture methodologies. Our approach focuses on the micro (individual interactions with tasks), meso (team interactions), and macro (organizational and system features) levels to foster a comprehensive safety culture. The findings highlight the potential of participatory ergonomicsErgonomics to mitigate risks such as hazardous drug exposure, radiation, and psychological stress among healthcareHealthcare workers, as well as to improve patientPatient safety by reducing medication errors and treatment complications. This study contributes to the existing literature by showcasing how a participatory approach can lead to more sustainable and effective safety practices in high-risk environments like cancerCancer care settings.