Table 2 shows the responses on perception of exposure to HIV at work and experience of workplace accidents with exposure to BBFs. Majority of respondents reported that their jobs involved exposure to BBFs (92.3%), use of needles (88.1%) and direct care of patients (87.2%). Staff from the nursing department reported the highest exposure to BBFs (98.9%) and use of needles (97.8%) compared to other departments (p < .05). Respondents in the nursing department (96.7%) reported highest involvement in the direct care of patients (p < .05). Two-thirds of respondents (67.7%) felt they were adequately protected against HIV infection in the workplace. Respondents in the medical (56.9%) and surgical (56.9%) departments reported the lowest level of protection in the work place (p < .05). Forty percent of respondents reported that their risk of contracting HIV at work was high. A higher proportion of respondents from surgical departments (49.7%) reported a high risk of contracting HIV at work, followed by those in the laboratory departments (41.3%) (p < .05).Table 2.Risk of exposure and workplace accidents of HCWs by departments.Risk of exposureMedical departmentsn (%)Surgical departmentsn (%)Laboratory departmentsn (%)Nursing departmentsn (%)Other departmentsan (%)Totaln (%)p ValueRisk of exposure of HCWs Job involves exposure to BBFs170 (93.4)185 (98.4)94 (87.9)365 (98.9)60 (59.4)874 (92.3).000 Job involves use of needles167 (92.3)184 (97.4)98 (90.7)359 (97.8)26 (25.5)834 (88.1).000 Job involves direct care of patient153 (84.5)175 (93.6)71 (67.6)356 (96.7)65 (65.7)820 (87.2).000 Feel adequately protected in the work place103 (56.9)107 (56.9)72 (70.6)276 (75.6) 76 (75.2)634 (67.7).000 High risk of contracting HIV at work73 (40.1)96 (49.7)45 (41.3)149 (40.9)17 (16.7)380 (40.0).000Workplace accidents in the last one year with potential risk of infection Accidental exposure in the last one year100 (55.9)115 (60.2)36 (33.0)154 (43.0)35 (35.4)440 (47.0).000 Splash of BBFs on intact skin81 (77.1)88 (77.2)26 (40.6)125 (64.4)11 (22.0)331 (62.8).000 Needle stick injury61 (57.5)64 (54.7)17 (25.8)69 (37.1)11 (20.8)220 (42.0).000 Cuts from broken bottles19 (20.7)30 (29.7)5 (8.5)53 (31.0)7 (14.3)114 (24.2).002 Splash of BBFs on mucosal lining19 (20.2)44 (40.7)6 (10.3)30 (18.1)5 (10.2)104 (21.9).000 Splash of BBFs on open wound11 (12.1)22 (21.4)2 (3.4)33 (19.5)9 (18.8)77 (16.4).000 Cuts from scalpel 6 (7.3) 18 (19.8)3 (5.4)27 (16.7)3 (6.4)57 (13.0).013 aOther departments include ward maids, surgical attendants, dental hygienist and porters.