Occupational exposure and health problems in small-scale industry workers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a situation analysis (original) (raw)
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A Status of Health and Safety to Small Scale Mineworkers in Singida Region, Tanzania
Mining is viewed as one of the lucrative economic activities which have the potential of contributing to the development of economies. At the same time, health and safety impacts of mining to the mineworkers have been a major concern to governments, the general public, stakeholder organizations and individuals. Whiles the contributions of mining activities to economic development of Tanzania is well acknowledged, others contend that, the gains from the mining sector to the economy is achieved at significant health and safety costs to the mineworkers in the country. The research examines the health and safety impacts of Londoni gold mining to the mineworkers in Manyoni District. In total, 90 small scale gold mineworkers were involved for data collection through questionnaire survey. In addition, 10 key informants from institutions and organizations which hold stake in the mining and related health and safety issues were involved through key informant's interviews. Likewise, 10 people were involved to give information through Focus Group Discussions. Furthermore, field site visits and documentary review were used to get data. The research revealed that, gold mining has resulted in health and safety problems to the mineworkers due to lack of miners protective gears, poor mining technology, and unsafe sexual intercourse. These have led to the loss of lives and properties due to spreading of both pandemic and epidemic diseases, ergonomic problems, and machine accidents. As a recommendation, there is a need for the mining company to make regular pits and equipments checkups, supply adequate and quality person protective equipments, and raising community awareness on health and safety aspects in mining extraction.
European Journal of Preventive Medicine
Small-scale enterprises and the informal sector such as mechanical, welding and carpentry workshops constitute the fastest growing economic sectors and represent the most realistic form of employment creation. These occupations are vulnerable and prone to concern themselves with survival rather than improving health and safety and as such health risks remain high in their workplaces. The objectives of this study was to assess the provision of PPEs to employees and level of enforcement of Occupational Health and Safety Act of 2010 with other regulations, guidelines and standard operational procedures in mechanical, welding and carpentry workshops in Mbala District of Northern province in the Republic of Zambia. A descriptive survey of 75 employees from small scale industries or workshops was conducted and data was collected using a questionnaire in line with key ILO thematic areas for workplaces. The results showed that the employees in these workshops were generally not complying with requirements for provision of PPEs with 28% of employees reported not being provided with PPEs. Emergency preparedness and prevention in the workplaces was also poor as none of the employees reported being trained or inducted in first aid management and 0% had first aid kit at their workshop as only 8% were inducted. It was also revealed that employees in Mechanical, Welding and Carpentry workshops in Mbala District of Zambia mostly are not complying with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2010 on general provisions including regulation 22 on provision and use of PPEs leading to dangerous and highly risky workplace environment. It was further revealed that all the employees from workshops interviewed have never been inspected or audited by Factory Inspectors from the Ministry of Labor and Social Services or from any other authorized bodies leading to lack of legal enforcement. The findings of this study can be used to update the health and safety conditions at different workplaces, achieving many socioeconomic benefits for Zambia. Intervention plans like education, awareness, and regular medical checkups should be advocated which help in prevention and minimizing workplace exposures to occupational hazards. The identification and prevention of work-related health costs could result in substantial savings for the national health system, leading to the more sustainable social system. This study provides the baseline for elaborative studies in the future.
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 2016
Background: Welding is a manufacturing industry where workers could be exposed to several hazards. However, there is a dearth of studies clarifying the situation in Ethiopia. The present study determined the level of awareness of occupational hazards and associated factors among welding employees at Lideta Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A work site-based cross-sectional study was conducted among welding employees Lideta Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from April to May 2015. Stratified sampling followed by simple random sampling techniques was used to select the study participants. A pilot tested and structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Multivariable analyses were employed to see the effect of explanatory variables on workers' awareness of occupational hazards. Results: According to our criteria of awareness 86.5 % of surveyed workers were aware of occupational hazards. A higher work experience, presence of work regulation, job satisfaction, being married, being single, and a higher educational status were factors significantly associated with workers' awareness of occupational hazards. Conclusion: This study revealed that the level of awareness of occupational hazards among welders was high. However, this does not mean that there will be no need for further strengthening of the safety measures as significant proportions of the workers still had low awareness. Interventions to boost workers awareness of occupational hazards should focus on areas, such as provision of safety trainings, promotion of safety advocacy, and enforcement of appropriate workplace safety regulation.
Journal of Scientific Research and Reports, 2020
Introduction: The sprawling of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the developing world provides several challenges to ensuring health and safety practices among workers in the urban poor. Purpose: The main objective of the study will be to determine the knowledge of physical hazards and the use of PPEs based demographic characteristics among welders in Embakasi constituency, Nairobi County. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted among 214 welders from 72 workshops in the Embakasi region, namely in Kariobangi South Light Industries, Kayole, and Umoja. Data collection procedure entailed observation, focus group discussions, and interviews with welders in Embakasi, Nairobi. Data were analysed using SPSS version 22 and both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were conducted to explain the association between the study variables. Results: The study indicated that 90.2% of welders knew the activities at the workplace that pose health hazard...
Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) defined "occupational health" as dealing with all aspects of health and safety in the workplace and has a strong focus on primary prevention of hazards. A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something or someone under certain conditions at work. Globally, there are 2.9 billion workers who are exposed to hazardous risk at their work places. Annually, there are two million deaths that are attributable to occupational diseases and injuries, while 4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is lost due to occupational diseases and injuries. Objectives: To assess the occupational health hazards in small and medium-scale manufacturing industries in Anambra State. Methodology: This was a comparative descriptive cross-sectional study amongst registered medium and small-scale manufacturing industries in Anambra State. Data were collected using an interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS version 17. An inspection of the industries was done and the measurement of noise level, dust and psychosocial hazards within the factory floor was carried out. Results: A preponderance of male staff was found in the small scale (77.6%) and medium scale (75.0%) industries. The medical staffs constituted 7.4% in the medium scale industries and 2.1% in the small scale industries. The medical staff in both the small and medium scale industries constituted only 3.9% of the total work force. The average noise level was found to be higher in the medium scale industries (76.2) as compared to the small scaled industries (72.6). The average environmental dust concentration and psychosocial hazards were found to be higher in the small scale industries (2.3mg/m 3 and 52.1%); as compared to the medium scale industries (1.1mg/m 3 and 26.3%) respectively. Cuts and injuries constituted 41.2%; 35.4 and 25.9%; 30.0 of complaints by workers associated with hazards in the small and medium scale industries respectively. Conclusion: The average noise level was higher in the medium scale industries and generally lower than the threshold limits value (TLV) for noise of 85dB over an 8 hour working period. The average environmental dust concentration and psychosocial hazards were higher in the small scale industries. There was high potentials for accidents and injuries.
Asian Journal of Medicine and Health, 2019
The informal non-food manufacturing sector is an engine of growth and development in both developed and developing countries. This particular sector is unregulated and unregistered in official government statistics. It is a heterogeneous sector found in open places, road reserves and marginal lands. However the sector is faced with occupational safety and health hazards without preventive measures. The study assessed occupational safety and health hazards in the informal non-food manufacturing sector in Kampala City, Uganda. The study adopted a cross sectional survey design that involved both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. A total of 424 firms were sampled from the 6 clusters of the informal sector. Primary and secondary sources using questionnaires, checklists and interview guide were used in data collection. Various types of hazards inherent in the informal non-food manufacturing sector in Kampala that included; physical, chemical, mechanical, biological,...
University of Dar es Salaam Library journal, 2023
Informal construction (IC) emerged after the Second World War. Informal economies have largely led to it. IC comprises individuals conducting construction activities that are unregulated despite their economic contribution. IC faces health and safety risks (HSR), but little has been investigated on the factors influencing HSR in IC. This study identified and ranked the factors influencing HSRs in the IC sites (ICS) in Tanzania. Data was collected from 304 mason workers (MW) in ICS through questionnaires based on 24 factors derived from the literature. The study employed the quantitative method. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for ranking and measuring the significance of factors. Findings revealed that lack of information and knowledge about safety rules, lack of awareness of risk management process and lack of framework and procedures were the significant factors highly influencing informal construction. Conversely, the lack of safety gear, drug abuse on-site and negligence have insignificant effects on informal construction. Moreover, the nature and physical layout of construction sites, labourers working in close proximity/overcrowded sites, and poor construction material arrangements were not significant factors. The study provides insight into the factors influencing HSR in informal construction. This study provides a baseline for developing an empirically grounded health and safety framework. The study will therefore pinpoint systematic HSR management procedures for improving HSR management in IC. Overall, the findings address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 Agenda Numbers 3 and 11, which aim to establish good health and well-being and mobilize sustainable cities and communities.
A Research Proposal submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health in the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. 2011 DECLARATION This proposal is my original work and has not been presented for a degree any other university. 2 Signature………………………………………. Date……………………. This proposal has been submitted for examination with our approval as university supervisors. Signature………………………………………. Date…………………… Dr. Joseph msanzu JKUAT, KENYA Signature………………………………………. Date…………………… Mr. JKUAT, KENYA Signature………………………………………. Date…………………… Mrs. JKUAT, KENYA AKNOWLEDGEMENT This proposal would not have been possible without the guidance and the help of several individuals who in one way or another contributed and extended their valuable assistance in the preparation and completion of this proposal writing. 3 First and foremost, my utmost gratitude goes to my supervisors to the Most High GOD for His guidance, life and strength in the period of writing. The Research methodology lecturer; Dr. Msanzu for his untiring effort in encouraging and guiding us in this process is highly appreciated.Lastly my gratitude goes to my classmates for their emotional support during classwork. 4 CONTENTS
PanAfrican Journal of Governance and Development (PJGD), 2022
The management of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) on construction sites continues to be an area of concern. Workers have continued to be blamed for unsafe behavior, contributing to the increase in the number of accidents on construction sites. Although various legislative acts enforcing Health and Safety (HS) exist, incompliance with such legislation is evident. This study sets out to understand why construction managers and workers do not comply with OHS legislation. Interviews, focus group discussions, and observations were carried out with the construction site managers and informal construction workers on selected construction sites. Content and thematic analyses were adopted to analyze the data using Nvivo version 12, qualitative analysis software. The study confirmed poor OHS practices and concluded that the precarious nature of the workers’ jobs in the construction sector limits their power to demand the enforcement of OHS, resulting in them accepting the risks as wage-f...