scholarly journals Exposure to occupational hazards among bakers and their coping mechanisms in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winifred Serwaa Bonsu ◽  
Dina Adei ◽  
Williams Agyemang-Duah
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Interpersonal Relationship ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Coping Mechanisms ◽  
Occupational Hazards ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background: Despite the contribution of the baking industry to employment creation and income generation in low-and middle-income countries, the sector is also prone to occupational health and safety challenges which could undermine the quality of life and wellbeing of bakers within the industry. However, studies on the exposure to occupational hazards among bakers and the strategies they employ to control their exposure to occupational hazards are still lacking in Ghana. In this study, we aimed at examining the exposure to occupational hazards among bakers in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana and further explore their coping mechanisms. Methods: By employing a cross-sectional design, the study was conducted among 172 bakers in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. A questionnaire consisting of both closed and open-ended questions was used to take data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were adopted to analyze the data. Results: We found that the participants were exposed to different types of occupational hazards including physical (noise, flour dust/smoke, fire, and high temperature), biological (mosquitoes, insects and rodents), psychosocial (stress, verbal abuse, and poor interpersonal relationship), chemical (chemicals in the local soap used to clean and wash napkins after baking), and ergonomic hazards (standing, sitting and bending repetitively). Some of the coping mechanisms employed to reduce exposure to the various types of occupational hazards comprise the use of a wooden and metallic peel to place and remove bread from the oven, removing excess fire from the oven with a peel, use of mosquito repellent and coil, rest breaks and staying hydrated. Conclusion: The findings from this study are therefore critical to informing policymakers in implementing occupational health and safety policies to safeguard the health of bakers in Ghana and other low-and middle-income countries. We suggest that there should be participatory and action-oriented programs organized for bakers at their weekly meetings to discuss relevant occupational health and safety issues. Union executives should carry out worksite inspection accompanied by a checklist to monitor the progress of the sessions held during meetings.

scholarly journals Exposure to occupational hazards among bakers and their coping mechanisms in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winifred Serwaa Bonsu ◽  
Dina Adei ◽  
Williams Agyemang-Duah
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Interpersonal Relationship ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Coping Mechanisms ◽  
Occupational Hazards ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background: Despite the contribution of the baking industry to employment creation and income generation in low-and middle-income countries, the sector is also prone to occupational health and safety challenges which could undermine the quality of life and wellbeing of bakers within the industry. However, studies on the exposure to occupational hazards among bakers and the strategies they employ to control their exposure to occupational hazards are still lacking in Ghana. In this study, we aimed at examining the exposure to occupational hazards among bakers in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana and further explore their coping mechanisms. Methods: By employing a cross-sectional design, the study was conducted among 172 bakers in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. A questionnaire consisting of both closed and open-ended questions was used to take data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were adopted to analyze the data. Results: We found that the participants were exposed to different types of occupational hazards including physical (noise, flour dust/smoke, fire, and high temperature), biological (mosquitoes, insects and rodents), psychosocial (stress, verbal abuse, and poor interpersonal relationship), chemical (chemicals in the local soap used to clean and wash napkins after baking), and ergonomic hazards (standing, sitting and bending repetitively). Some of the coping mechanisms employed to reduce exposure to the various types of occupational hazards comprise the use of a wooden and metallic peel to place and remove bread from the oven, removing excess fire from the oven with a peel, use of mosquito repellent and coil, rest breaks and staying hydrated. Conclusion: The findings from this study are therefore critical to informing policymakers in implementing occupational health and safety policies to safeguard the health of bakers in Ghana and other low-and middle-income countries. We suggest that there should be participatory and action-oriented programs organized for bakers at their weekly meetings to discuss relevant occupational health and safety issues. Union executives should carry out worksite inspection accompanied by a checklist to monitor the progress of the sessions held during meetings.

A Global Perspective on Occupational Health and Safety

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorma H. Rantanen
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Occupational Injuries ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Psychosocial Problems ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
High Income ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Occupational Hazards ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Informal Workers

Occupational hazards as well as occupational injuries and diseases are frequent and serious problems not only in industrialized high-income countries, but also in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In high-income countries, the occurrence of occupational injuries and chemically-related disorders has decreased while psychosocial problems and issues for disabled, aging, and other vulnerable workers have increased. In the LMICs, “traditional” occupational hazards and related injuries and diseases are still a major concern. Globalization, while providing some benefits to workers, has presented many negative effects, such as transfer of hazardous technologies and substances to LMICs, widening of income gaps, and worsening of working conditions and worker income, especially for agricultural workers, those with little education, and informal workers. The chapter provides a global overview of work and workers as well occupational health and safety hazards and related challenges.

scholarly journals Occupational Health and Safety legislative compliance in the construction sites in Windhoek, Namibia

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Maano Nghitanwa ◽  
Lindiwe I Zungu
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Occupational Accidents ◽  
Occupational Hazards ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Spss Software

Non compliances towards occupational health and safety legislations has been on increase globally which leads to higher incidence of occupational accidents, injuries and diseases. The aim of the study is to determine the presence of occupational hazards in the construction industry and to investigate the occupational health and safety provision and compliance among construction sites in Windhoek. A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive design was used to conduct the study. Census sampling was used to include ten construction sites with project running during data collection time and whose site managers agreed to participate in the study. Data was collected in ten construction sites with the site inspection checklist to assess the occupational hazards and OHS compliance in participated construction sites. Data was analysed with SPSS software. The study findings indicated that occupational hazards are prevalent in the construction industry, but there is poor mechanism to control hazards and to prevent hazard exposures. Furthermore, most construction sites are non compliant towards OHS legislations. It is recommended that OHS legislations should be enforced to promote the OHS in the construction industry.

scholarly journals Hierarchical disentanglement of contextual from compositional risk factors of diarrhoea among under-five children in low- and middle-income countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adeniyi Francis Fagbamigbe ◽  
A. Olalekan Uthman ◽  
Latifat Ibisomi
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
National Level ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Contextual Risk ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Under Five Children ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

AbstractSeveral studies have documented the burden and risk factors associated with diarrhoea in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). To the best of our knowledge, the contextual and compositional factors associated with diarrhoea across LMIC were poorly operationalized, explored and understood in these studies. We investigated multilevel risk factors associated with diarrhoea among under-five children in LMIC. We analysed diarrhoea-related information of 796,150 under-five children (Level 1) nested within 63,378 neighbourhoods (Level 2) from 57 LMIC (Level 3) using the latest data from cross-sectional and nationally representative Demographic Health Survey conducted between 2010 and 2018. We used multivariable hierarchical Bayesian logistic regression models for data analysis. The overall prevalence of diarrhoea was 14.4% (95% confidence interval 14.2–14.7) ranging from 3.8% in Armenia to 31.4% in Yemen. The odds of diarrhoea was highest among male children, infants, having small birth weights, households in poorer wealth quintiles, children whose mothers had only primary education, and children who had no access to media. Children from neighbourhoods with high illiteracy [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.07, 95% credible interval (CrI) 1.04–1.10] rates were more likely to have diarrhoea. At the country-level, the odds of diarrhoea nearly doubled (aOR = 1.88, 95% CrI 1.23–2.83) and tripled (aOR = 2.66, 95% CrI 1.65–3.89) among children from countries with middle and lowest human development index respectively. Diarrhoea remains a major health challenge among under-five children in most LMIC. We identified diverse individual-level, community-level and national-level factors associated with the development of diarrhoea among under-five children in these countries and disentangled the associated contextual risk factors from the compositional risk factors. Our findings underscore the need to revitalize existing policies on child and maternal health and implement interventions to prevent diarrhoea at the individual-, community- and societal-levels. The current study showed how the drive to the attainment of SDGs 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10 will enhance the attainment of SDG 3.

scholarly journals Occupational Health and Safety in the Palm Oil Industry: A Systematic Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 159-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuruly Myzabella ◽  
Lin Fritschi ◽  
Nick Merdith ◽  
Sonia El-Zaemey ◽  
HuiJun Chih ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Palm Oil ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Oil Industry ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Occupational Hazards ◽  
Psychosocial Disorders ◽  
Oil Palm Plantation

Background: The palm oil industry is the largest contributor to global production of oils and fats. Indonesia and Malaysia are the largest producers of palm oil. More than a million workers are employed in this industry, yet there is a lack of information on their occupational health and safety. Objective: To identify and summarize occupational hazards among oil palm plantation workers. Methods: A search was carried out in June 2018 in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Ovid. Relevant publications were identified by a systematic search of four databases and relevant journals. Publications were included if they examined occupational hazards in oil palm plantation workers. Results: 941 publications were identified; of these, 25 studies were found eligible to be included in the final review. Of the 25 studies examined, 19 were conducted in Malaysia, 2 in Costa Rica, and one each in Ghana, Indonesia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, and Cameroon. Oil palm plantation workers were found to be at risk of musculoskeletal conditions, injuries, psychosocial disorders, and infectious diseases such as malaria and leptospirosis. In addition, they have potential exposure to paraquat and other pesticides. Conclusion: In light of the potential of palm oil for use as a biofuel, this is an industry with strong growth potential. The workers are exposed to various occupational hazards. Further research and interventions are necessary to improve the working conditions of this already vast and growing workforce.

scholarly journals Relationship of occupational health and safety training with health literacy among employees working in the various lines of business

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Nergiz Sevinc ◽  
Burcu Korkut
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Scale Scores

Background<br />Health literacy is vital for people’s ability to manage health. It has been known for a long time that the importance of education in increasing health literacy is an undeniable fact. The first aim of this study was to investigate the health literacy levels of employees working in different business lines receiving service from the occupational health and safety unit. The second aim was to reveal how health literacy levels are affected according to the training duration.<br /><br />Methods<br />A cross-sectional study was conducted on 202 employees receiving service from the Karabuk occupational health and safety unit. The employees were divided into three groups as workers, officers and others. All employees were given the questionnaire consisting of 31 questions including sociodemographic characteristics and the adult health literacy scale. A face-to-face interview was performed with each of the employees. Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze the data.<br /><br />Results<br />The range of adult health literacy scale scores of the employees was 4-23. There was no significant difference in adult health literacy scale scores between age groups (p=0.38). The percentage of employees who received more than 16 hours training course was 19.3%, 20.6%, and 46.7% for workers, civil servants and other employees, respectively. Adult health literacy scale scores increased in proportion to the amount of training the employees received (p=0.001).<br /><br />Conclusion<br />This study reveals that occupational health training has a positive effect on health literacy.

scholarly journals HUBUNGAN INTENSITAS SUARA DENGAN GANGGUAN PENDENGARAN PEKERJA UNIT KILN PT. HOLCIM INDONESIA TBK. CILACAP PLANT TAHUN 2016

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-97
Author(s):  
Afifah Nurul Azmi ◽  
Yulianto Yulianto
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Cross Sectional

Pengukuran intensitas suara yang dilakukan oleh departemen Occupational Health and Safety PT. HolcimIndonesia Tbk. Cilacap Plant tahun 2015 diketahui nilai intensitas suara di Unit Kiln melebihi NAB yaituberkisar:88,9 dB - 111,2 dB. Intensitas suara di tempat kerja sebesar 85 dB selama 8 jam dapat beresikomemberikan efek gangguan pendengaran. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mengetahui hubungan intensitas suaradengan gangguan pendengaran pekerja Unit Kiln PT. Holcim Indonesia Tbk. Cilacap Plant. Jenis penelitian yangdigunakan adalah observasional dengan metode cross sectional. Variabel yang dianalisis adalah variabel bebas(intensitas suara), variabel terikat (gangguan pendengaran), variabel pengganggu (umur, masa kerja, penggunaanalat pelindung telinga, lama paparan, suhu, kelembaban). Sampel dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh pekerjapatrol pada Unit Kiln PT. Holcim Indonesia Tbk. Cilacap Plant tahun 2016 sebanyak 16 orang. Hasil analisis ujistatistik menggunakan uji Pearson Product Moment menunjukkan tidak ada hubungan antara intensitas suaradengan gangguan pendengaran telinga kiri, telinga kanan dan kedua telinga pada pekerja Unit Kiln PT. HolcimIndonesia Tbk. Cilacap Plant tahun 2016. Diperoleh nilai hitung rxy = 0,073; 0,161 dan 0,019 menunjukkanhubungan yang sangat rendah. Berdasarkan hasil tersebut disimpulkan tidak ada hubungan intensitas suara dengangangguan pendengaran pekerja Unit Kiln PT. Holcim Indonesia Tbk. Cilacap Plant tahun 2016. Saran bagi OHSdepartment melakukan pemeriksaan lebih lanjut tentang alasan pekerja tidak menggunakan APT dan dilakukanpemantauan secara rutin penggunaan APT pada pekerja saat bekerja. Bagi pekerja agar bekerja sesuai denganSOP yang sudah ada dan menggunakan APT saat bekerja serta saling mengingatkan dalam penggunaan APT.

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