Occupational hazard awareness and safety practices among Nigerian sawmill workers
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health - Year 2014, Vol 3, Issue 10
Abstract
Background: There is high prevalence of occupational injuries among blue-collar workers in the construction and other industry sectors whose jobs require high level risk in physical tasks. Aims & Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the awareness of occupational hazards and safety practices among Nigerian sawmill workers. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional survey recruited 94 sawmill workers comprising machine operators, planks pushers/carriers and planks vendors at Ile-Ife, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire developed from related studies was used as the survey instrument. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The mean age and the number of years at saw mill were 38.28+11.67 and 7.66+6.55 years respectively. More than half of the respondents were aware of occupational hazards. Sawmill dust (95.7%), noise pollution (81.8%) and crush injury from machine (75.5%) were the most implicated risks to health hazards. Occasional hazards were largely difficulty with breathing (56.4%) and hearing (35.1%). Occasional and constant back pain was reported by 45.7% and 38.3% of the respondents respectively. 59.7% of the respondents agreed that safety devices were necessary for safety at workplace. Face masks (78.7%), protective goggle (40.4%) and hand gloves (18.1%) were implicated as necessary devices. Only 34.0% of the respondents use face mask regularly as a safety device. However, 72.3% to 79.8% of the respondents never utilized safety devices. Conclusion: There was high level of awareness but incorrect conceptualizations of occupational hazards among Nigerian sawmill workers. The workers were exposed to various occupational injuries but showed poor compliance with safety devices utilization.
Authors and Affiliations
Funmilola Adenike Faremi, Adesola Adenike Ogunfowokan, Chidozie Mbada, Matthew Idowu Olatubi
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP148437
- DOI 10.5455/ijmsph.2014.260620142
- Views 78
- Downloads 0
Tympanosclerosis causing blockage of Middle Ear Cleft
Background: Middle ear cleft space starts from Eustachian tube, and includes middle ear, aditus & mastoid antrum. It develops from 1st visceral pouch. Blockage of middle ear cleft, particularly the aditus can...
Dislocation of bilateral temporomandibular joint in a critically ill patient after seizure
Spontaneous anterior temporomandibular joint dislocation is a rare scenario. Underlying systemic diseases such as epilepsy may predispose a patient to temporomandibular joint dislocation. We present here such a case of...
Employment status and differences in physical activity behavior during times of economic hardship: results of a population-based study
Background: The recent economic recession has lead to an increased unemployment in many countries worldwide. In addition, research has suggested that economic recession can have an impact on an individual’s health be...
A descriptive retrospective study of ophthalmic care during pregnancy at Al Baha Province, Saudi Arabia
Background: The eye is considered as the mirror for the human body, and its examination can reflect many signs of systemic diseases. Pregnancy is associated with many physiological changes in the eyes that should be cons...
Spectrum of epithelial ovarian tumors with HER2/neu expression by the carcinomas among patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India
Background: Women in India constitute a neglected part of the society and their sufferings are least highlighted. Ovarian cancer is a fatal disease that affects them silently. Its incidence is rising with progressive...