scholarly journals Injury rate and risk factors among small-scale gold miners in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Kweku Nakua ◽  
Ellis Owusu-Dabo ◽  
Samuel Newton ◽  
Adofo Koranteng ◽  
Easmon Otupiri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Incidence Rate ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Injury Rate ◽  
Safety Training ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Injury Incidence ◽  
The Past ◽  
Gold Miners

Abstract Background To determine the potential risk factors for injury, estimate the annual injury rate and examine the safety perceptions, and use of personal protective equipment among small-scale gold miners in Ghana. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out with 494 small-scale gold miners from four major mining districts in Ghana. A household-based approach was used to obtain a representative sample of miners. The study was conducted from June 2015 to August 2016. A systematic sampling technique was used to select households and recruit respondents to interview. Miners were asked about any mining related injury that they had sustained in the past year. A logistics regression model was employed to examine the association between risk factors and injury. Data were analyzed with STATA version 14.0. Results The annual incidence rate of mining-related injury was 289 per 1000 workers. Injuries were mainly caused by machinery/tools 66(46.1%), followed by slip/falls 46(32.2%). The major risk factor for injury was underground work (adjusted odds ratio for injury 3.19; 95% CI = 1.42–7.20) compared with surface work. Higher education levels were protective, with adjusted odds ratios of 0.48 (95% CI = 0.24–0.99) for middle school education and 0.38 (95% CI 0.17–0.83) for secondary school compared with no schooling. Only 15(3.0%) of miners reported to have had safety training in the past year and 105(21.3%) indicated that there were safety regulations at their work place. A moderate number of workers reported using work boots 178(36.0%) and hand gloves 134(27.1%), but less than 10% of workers used other personal protective equipment. Conclusion The annual injury incidence rate among small-scale gold miners is high. Potential targets for improving safety include increasing safety training, increasing use of personal protective equipment, and better understanding potential changes that can be made in the machinery and tools used in small-scale mining, which were associated with almost half of all injuries.

scholarly journals Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Mercury Exposure in Seafood and Human Populations near a Small-Scale Gold Mining Area

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Sofia ◽  
Adi Heru Husodo ◽  
Eko Sugiharto
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Chronic Toxicity ◽  
Penaeus Monodon ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Acute And Chronic Toxicity ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Gold Miners

<p>Gold amalgamation processes using mercury were practiced in small scale gold mining activities in Krueng Sabee, Aceh Province. Seafood (fish, mollusc, shrimp) and human hair samples were collected to assess mercury concentrations.  Acute and chronic toxicity symptoms which arise among the populations were observed as well as personal protective equipment used by gold miners. The range of mercury concentrations varied among fish, shrimp, and molluscs. The highest mercury levels were recorded in fish <em>Puntius latristriga</em> (172.299 ± 10.626 µg/g wet wt.), followed by mollusc, <em>Polymesoda caroliniana </em> (160,032 ± 0,522 µg/g wet wt.), fish <em>R.kanagurta</em> (149 ±2,000 µg/g wet wt.), shrimp <em>Penaeus monodon</em> (116.975 ± 4.807 µg/g wet wt.).  The variation of mercury concentrations in hair samples of 72 respondents were detected from 5.7 µg/g to 88.1 µg/g. The most frequent acute and chronic intoxication symptoms documented were headache, muscle cramps, cough, and aphthous ulcers. Personal protective equipment which has correlation with high mercury levels in gold miners were respirator/mask, gloves, and apparel (p &lt; 0.05). All seafood samples exceeded 0.5 µg Hg/g MoH Food and Drug Administrasion threshold level and hair samples over 10 µg/g as set by WHO tolerance limit.</p>

scholarly journals Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Mercury Exposure in Seafood and Human Populations near a Small-Scale Gold Mining Area

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 257
Author(s):  
Sofia Sofia ◽  
Adi Heru Husodo ◽  
Eko Sugiharto
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Chronic Toxicity ◽  
Penaeus Monodon ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Acute And Chronic Toxicity ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Gold Miners

<p>Gold amalgamation processes using mercury were practiced in small scale gold mining activities in Krueng Sabee, Aceh Province. Seafood (fish, mollusc, shrimp) and human hair samples were collected to assess mercury concentrations.  Acute and chronic toxicity symptoms which arise among the populations were observed as well as personal protective equipment used by gold miners. The range of mercury concentrations varied among fish, shrimp, and molluscs. The highest mercury levels were recorded in fish <em>Puntius latristriga</em> (172.299 ± 10.626 µg/g wet wt.), followed by mollusc, <em>Polymesoda caroliniana </em> (160,032 ± 0,522 µg/g wet wt.), fish <em>R.kanagurta</em> (149 ±2,000 µg/g wet wt.), shrimp <em>Penaeus monodon</em> (116.975 ± 4.807 µg/g wet wt.).  The variation of mercury concentrations in hair samples of 72 respondents were detected from 5.7 µg/g to 88.1 µg/g. The most frequent acute and chronic intoxication symptoms documented were headache, muscle cramps, cough, and aphthous ulcers. Personal protective equipment which has correlation with high mercury levels in gold miners were respirator/mask, gloves, and apparel (p &lt; 0.05). All seafood samples exceeded 0.5 µg Hg/g MoH Food and Drug Administrasion threshold level and hair samples over 10 µg/g as set by WHO tolerance limit.</p>

scholarly journals Work-related Injury among Welders Working in Metal Workshops of Dharan Municipality, Nepal

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-159
Author(s):  
Anup Ghimire ◽  
Shyam Sundar Budhathoki ◽  
Surya Raj Niraula ◽  
Abha Shrestha ◽  
Paras K Pokharel
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Work Related ◽  
The Past ◽  
Occupational Characteristics ◽  
Recorded Data ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Background: Injuries are a problem worldwide in all occupations. Welders are exposed to many hazards at work resulting in a variety of health problems including injuries at work. This study was conducted to find out the prevalence and factors associated with injuries among welders in Dharan city of eastern Nepal.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 86 welders in Dharan city. Occurrence of injury in past 2 weeks and past 12 months were recorded. Data regarding sociodemographic along with occupational characteristics was collected using semi structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 17.Results: All the welders in this study were male with almost half of the welders under the age of 25 years and about a fifth (21.1%) of the welders having received some form of welding training. In the past 12 months, 21.1% of the welders suffered from work related injuries. More than 95% welders used at least one personal protective equipment in this study. More injuries were seen among welders with age ≥35 years, working experience ≥ 5 years, not received training and not using of PPE at work. However, these factors were not found to be statistically significant.Conclusions: Work related injuries are high among welders of Dharan. Further research is required to explore the relationship between age, literacy, training and use of personal protective equipment with the occurrence of injuries among the welders.

scholarly journals Injury Incidence, Patterns, and Risk Factors in Functional Training Athletes in an Asian Population

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 232596712095741
Author(s):  
Timothy Tsin Jien Cheng ◽  
Azura Mansor ◽  
Yi Zhen Lim ◽  
M. Tanveer Hossain Parash
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
Injury Incidence ◽  
Descriptive Data ◽  
Injury Rates ◽  
Functional Training ◽  
The Past ◽  
Injury Occurrence ◽  
Electronic Questionnaires ◽  
Average Fitness

Background: Functional training, also known as CrossFit, is a unique sport that combines weightlifting, gymnastics, and metabolic conditioning into a single program. There are an estimated 50 functional training centers in Malaysia. Purpose: To analyze the injury rates, patterns, and risk factors of functional training/CrossFit. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Electronic questionnaires were distributed to 244 participants from 15 centers in the country. Descriptive data regarding the athletes, injury occurrence within the past 6 months, injury details, and risk factors were collected. Results: Of the 244 athletes, 112 (46%) developed at least 1 new injury over the previous 6 months. Injury rates were significantly higher in athletes from nonaffiliate training gyms compared with CrossFit-affiliated gyms, in athletes with previous injuries, and in those who perceived themselves as having more than average fitness. Conclusion: Coaches and athletes need to be more aware of risk factors for injury to enable safer and better training strategies.

scholarly journals Awareness and utilization of personal protective equipment among small-scale welders in Cross River State, Nigeria: a descriptive cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Ekpereonne Esu ◽  
Utibeabasi Ekanem
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Cross River ◽  
Cross River State ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Objective: Rapid urbanization and industrialization in the many low- and middle-income countries means that there is a growing demand for the welding industry. Previous studies in Nigeria, and other low- and middle-income countries have reported a significant discrepancy between awareness and consistent and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE). This study assessed the awareness and utilization of PPE among small-scale welders in Calabar South, Cross River State, Nigeria. Methods: This study was conducted in Calabar South Local Government Area using a descriptive cross-sectional design. Data collection was with an interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire, and an observation checklist was used to monitor the use of PPE among small-scale welders. Results:  One hundred and sixteen small-scale welders were surveyed with a mean age of 34.9 ±9.1 years. Almost 90% of respondents had completed at least primary education. Eighty-one respondents (69.8%) were aware of PPE. Three-quarters of respondents (61/81) knew PPE protected the user from injury. The most frequently identified type of welding PPE among the respondents aware of PPE, were safety goggles (38.3%), hand gloves (25.9%), safety boots (19.8%), and coveralls (9.9%). 83.6% had access to PPE at work. However, only 14.4% reported using PPE consistently. Observation revealed that the PPE most frequently used, sunglasses, were not the recommended welding goggles. Conclusion:  The low utilization of PPE calls for stricter enforcement of occupational health and safety regulations among welders in the informal sector, including implementing PPE awareness programs.

scholarly journals Occupational Injuries among Latino/a Immigrant Cattle Feedyard Workers in the Central States Region of the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8821
Author(s):  
Athena K. Ramos ◽  
Suraj Adhikari ◽  
Aaron M. Yoder ◽  
Risto H. Rautiainen
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Occupational Injuries ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
The United States ◽  
Safety Training ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Past ◽  
Risk Of Injury ◽  
Latino Immigrant

Agriculture is a dangerous industry with high rates of occupational injuries. Immigrants comprise the majority of the hired agricultural workforce in the United States, and these workers may be at a higher risk for job-related injuries. This study addressed the frequency, characteristics, and risk factors of occupational injuries among Latino immigrant cattle feedyard workers. Data were collected through structured interviews with Latino immigrant cattle feedyard workers in Kansas and Nebraska (n = 243; 90.9% male). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to identify risk factors for injury. Nearly three-fourths of participants (71.2%) reported having experienced one or more injuries in the past while working on a cattle feedyard. The most frequent types of reported injuries, including those not requiring medical care, were bruises/contusions (40%), cuts/lacerations (21%), and sprains/strains (12%). These injuries were mainly caused by animals/livestock (33%), chemicals (23%), falls (12%), and tools (9%). Significant risk factors for injury included male gender (OR 5.9), being over age 35 (OR 2.6), working on a large or an extra-large feedyard (OR 5.4), having 11 or more employees on the feedyard (OR 3.6), and working more than eight hours a day (OR 4.7). Having received safety training was also associated with greater risk of injury in a univariable model (OR 2.6). Cattle feedyard workers are at high risk for injury and require more effective preventive measures.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Work-Related Injury and Its Determinants among Construction Workers in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Zemachu Ashuro ◽  
Yifokire Tefera Zele ◽  
Robel Hussen Kabthymer ◽  
Kuma Diriba ◽  
Aragaw Tesfaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Safety Training ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Work Related Injury ◽  
Pooled Prevalence

Background. Construction is one of the highest risky jobs for accident-related fatalities and injuries globally. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of work-related injury and its associated factors among construction workers in Ethiopia. Methods. A systematic literature search was performed by using PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of work-related injury and its associated factors. The heterogeneity of the studies was assessed by using the I2 test, and the presence of publication bias was evaluated by using funnel plot and Egger’s test. Results. After reviewing 292 articles, we included 10 studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria in the meta-analysis. The findings from the 10 studies showed that the pooled prevalence of work-related injury in Ethiopia was 46.78% (95% CI: 32.17, 61.38). The subgroup analysis of this study showed that the highest prevalence was reported in Addis Ababa with the prevalence of 55.9% (25.42, 86.4), followed by a study conducted in Oromia Region with a prevalence of 43.3% (33.3, 53.3). Lack of occupational safety training (OR: 2.43, 95% CI: 1.76, 3.35), not using of personal protective equipment (OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.80, 2.99), and male workers (OR: 2.44, 95% CI: 1.15, 5.17) were the major factors significantly associated with the occurrence of work-related injury among construction workers. Conclusions. This study confirmed that construction is still a high-risk job with a high prevalence of work-related injury in Ethiopia. The modifiable risk factors such as the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), lack of safety training, and gender were the major associated factors with injury. Therefore, a continuous safety training and awareness creation program on risk-taking behavior should be given to construction workers.

scholarly journals Gender-Specific Risk Factors of Physical Activity-Related Injuries among Middle School Students in Southern China

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (13) ◽  
pp. 2359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongchun Tang ◽  
Weicong Cai ◽  
Wenda Yang ◽  
Yang Gao ◽  
Liping Li
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Middle School ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Exposure Time ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Injury Rate ◽  
Injury Incidence ◽  
School Students ◽  
Gender Specific

This cross-sectional study was carried out to explore the potential risk factors of physical activity-related injuries (PARI) among middle-school students of different genders. Selected by the random cluster sampling method, students aged from 12 to 16 years old in grades 7–8 from six middle schools in Shantou, southern China, were recruited for this investigation in November 2017. Information about socio-demographics, physical activity (PA) exposure time, individual exercise behaviors, risk-taking behaviors, and PARI experiences in the past 12 months was collected. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to explore the risk factors of PARI. A total of 1270 students completed valid questionnaires, with an overall injury incidence of 33.6% (boys: 42.0%; girls: 25.0%), an injury risk of 0.68 injuries/student/year, and an injury rate of 1.43 injuries per 1000 PA exposure hours. For boys, living in a school dormitory, participating in sports teams, exercising on a wet floor, rebellious behavior, and having longer PA exposure time were the risk factors of PARI. For girls, those who were sports team members, whose parents were divorced or separated, and those with longer PA exposure time were more vulnerable to suffer from PARI. In conclusion, PARI was a health problem among middle school students in southern China. Boys and girls differed in PARI occurrence and were affected by different risk factors, which provides a basis for targeted gender-specific intervention programs to reduce the occurrence of PARI among middle-school students.

scholarly journals Knowledge, Perception and Practice of Safety Measures Related to Workplace Hazards among Manual Stone Crushing Workers in Sokoto, Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-18
Author(s):  
Aminu U. Kaoje ◽  
Ladan Haliru ◽  
Mansur O. Raji ◽  
Umar M. Ango ◽  
Jessica T. Ango
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Workplace Hazards

Background: Although manual stone crushing activities provide income to families, the working conditions are often unhealthy and dangerous and employees are ignorantly exposed to different hazardous materials particularly dust particles. Objectives: To assess Knowledge, perception, and Practice of occupational safety measures related to workplace hazards among manual stone crushing workers. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 156 informal small-scale quarries for construction materials workers in Sokoto metropolis. The respondents were selected using a simple random sampling technique and data collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Descriptive, bivariate and binary logistic regression analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23 and results presented in tables. Results: Respondents median age was 23 years, interquartile range: 18.3 – 28.0. Adolescents and young adults accounted for 54.4% of the workforce. All the respondents were males and 69.9% had no formal education. Only 25% had good knowledge of workplace hazard and as high as 63% have a low-risk perception of the hazards. Very few (7.7%) reported the use of personal protective equipment. Only awareness of disease risk (aOR =5.25, P <0.001) was the predictor of respondents’ knowledge of workplace hazards. Predictors for risk perception level of workplace hazards were respondents’ knowledge (aOR = 0.33, p˂0.01); Aware of risk of disease (aOR =2.92, P <0.01); and employment status (aOR = 0.31, p˂0.03). Conclusions: Poor knowledge and low-risk perception of workplace hazards are very prevalent among workers and very few reported use of personal protective equipment. Training and awareness creation on workplace hazards are highly recommended.

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