Awareness of Occupational Hazards and Utilization of Safety Measures among Welders in Aksum and Adwa Towns, Tigray Region, Ethiopia, 2013.

Berhe Beyene Gebrezgiabher,Desalegn Tetemke,Tesfaye Yetum

doi:10.1155/2019/4174085

Berhe Beyene Gebrezgiabher, Desalegn Tetemke + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/4174085

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Abstract

Introduction At present, it is estimated that more than one million workers are employed as welders worldwide with more than three million performing welding as part of their work duties. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess workers' level of awareness towards occupational hazards and their adherence to safety measures. Methodology An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 25 to March 10, 2013 among welding factory workers. The study included 278 workers selected by simple random sampling, and data were collected by using structured and pretested questionnaire. The data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 16 statistical package. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to found the effect of the independent variables on the dependent variables. Result One hundred thirty-five (51.9%) respondents had knowledge on occupational hazards and 225 (86.5%) workers used personal protective equipments. Variables such as work experience, work type, safety training, work regulation, and guideline had significant association with the knowledge of respondents: (AOR: 0.44 (0.19, 0.99)), (AOR: 0.38 (0.22, 0.65)), (AOR: 0.33 (0.17, 0.63)), and (AOR: 0.31 (0.15, 0.67)), respectively. Educational status, work experience, safety training, and availability of work regulation were found to be associated with PPE use (AOR: 13.20 (10.65, 16.46)), (AOR: 0.03 (0.003, 0.34)), (AOR: 0.02 (0.01, 0.09)), and (AOR: 0.06 (0.02, 0.21)), respectively. Conclusion and Recommendation Nearly half of respondents had knowledge about occupational hazards and high proportion of study subjects were used personal protective equipments. Safety and health training was the common factor to increase knowledge and personal protective usage practicing habits. Employers and other responsible bodies should encourage training and regular supervision should be made including on workers' safety and well-being.

Highlights

At present, it is estimated that more than one million workers are employed as welders worldwide with more than three million performing welding as part of their work duties
An institution-based crosssectional study was conducted from February 25 to March 10, 2013 among welding factory workers. e study included 278 workers selected by simple random sampling, and data were collected by using structured and pretested questionnaire. e data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 16 statistical package
Educational status, work experience, safety training, and availability of work regulation were found to be associated with PPE use (AOR: 13.20 (10.65, 16.46)), (AOR: 0.03 (0.003, 0.34)), (AOR: 0.02 (0.01, 0.09)), and (AOR: 0.06 (0.02, 0.21)), respectively

Summary

Introduction

It is estimated that more than one million workers are employed as welders worldwide with more than three million performing welding as part of their work duties. One hundred thirty-five (51.9%) respondents had knowledge on occupational hazards and 225 (86.5%) workers used personal protective equipments. Variables such as work experience, work type, safety training, work regulation, and guideline had significant association with the knowledge of respondents: (AOR: 0.44 (0.19, 0.99)), (AOR: 0.38 (0.22, 0.65)), (AOR: 0.33 (0.17, 0.63)), and (AOR: 0.31 (0.15, 0.67)), respectively. Half of respondents had knowledge about occupational hazards and high proportion of study subjects were used personal protective equipments. Safety and health training was the common factor to increase knowledge and personal protective usage practicing habits. Industrial occupations may create unsafe work and work environment because of the inherent sources of hazard present in their material, process, technologies, or products. Industrial occupations may create unsafe work and work environment because of the inherent sources of hazard present in their material, process, technologies, or products. ese sources of hazards may pose the risk of accidents and work related disease to the people within the industrial premises in particular and the general public in the vicinity and the environment in general [4].

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