OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH STATUS OF WORKERS IN THE BRONZE CASTING INDUSTRY IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH STATUS OF WORKERS IN THE BRONZE CASTING INDUSTRY IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

Abstract

Background
Workplace hazards exert a large toll on the society in terms of morbidity, mortality, financial and social costs. Bronze casting is a metal forming process and involves moulding/pattern making, coremaking, melting and pouring, shakeout and dressing/cleaning. The working environment of foundries (bronze casting) is hazardous and characterized by multiple simultaneous chemical, physical and mechanical hazards exposure, which could lead to injury, disabilities and disease in the workers.
Objective
To assess the occupational health status of workers in the bronze casting industry in Benin City with a view to suggesting ways of improving their health status
Methodology
This was an analytical cross-sectional study of a population consisting of 110 bronze casters and 118 controls in Benin City. It was a total population study and a walkthrough survey was used to identify hazards in the workplace of bronze casters while noise, heat stress index and dust measurements were taken with a sound level meter, heat stress meter and dust sampler respectively. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to assess respondents knowledge of hazards in their work environments. Morbidity pattern, hearing function and ventilatory function of the bronze casters were compared with a control group who were office staff of a local government secretariat. An observational check list was used to assess the general working conditions of the workplace and control measures against the identified hazards in all work stations. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 20 software and level of significance was set at p < 0.05
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Results
Hazards identified in the work place of bronze casters include noise levels greater than 85 dB, heat stress index greater than 300C, vibration, dust, fumes, cuts, slips/falls, ergonomic hazards and work stress. Knowledge of these hazards was good among 58 (52.7%) of the casters. There was a statistically significant higher prevalence of profuse sweating, muscle cramp, low back pain, blurred vision, eye irritation and tinnitus amongst bronze casters compared with their controls. After adjusting for age and number of years on the job, bronze casters were 4.28 times (95% CI: 1.94 – 9.44) more likely to have high frequency hearing loss compared with their controls. The mean lung volumes of FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEFR and FEF 25-75 were significantly lower in the casters compared with their controls. Restriction was the commonest ventilatory impairment found among the bronze casters and was present in 19 (17.3%) of casters compared to 14 (11.9%) of controls. Control measures which were present at the casting sites include adequate general ventilation and bathing facilities in all workstations. None of the workers were seen using any form of personal protective equipment while at work.
Conclusion / Recommendations
Bronze casters in Benin City were exposed to multiple simultaneous workplace hazards and had a wide range of morbidities including respiratory morbidities and hearing loss. Though slightly more than half of the respondents had good knowledge of these hazards, they were not adequately protected from these hazards. It is therefore recommended that adequate control measures be put in place to safeguard the health of the bronze casters.

Title Page———i

Certification——–ii

Dedication———iii

Acknowledgement——-iv

Abstract ———vi

Table of Content——–vii

 

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction ——-1

1.1 Statement of Problem——4

1.2 Purpose of the Study——5

1.3 Significance of Study——8

1.4 Limitation——–9

1.5 Scope of Study——-11

 

Chapter Two

2.0 Review of Related Literature —-12

2.6 Summary of Literature Review—- 19

 

Chapter Three

3.0 Research Methodology and Procedure—22

3.1 Population ——–22

3.2 Sample and Sampling Technique—-22

3.3 Validation of the Instrument —-23

3.4 Reliability of the Instrument —–23

3.5 Data Analysis——-23

 

Chapter Four

4.0 Presentation and Discussion of Result—24

4.1 Analysis and interpretaion of Data—25

4.2 Discussion of Results——38

 

Chapter Five

5.0. Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendation  –40

5.1 Summary——–40

5.2 Conclusion——–41

5.3 Recommendation——42

References ———45

Appendix 1——–47

Appendix ———50

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH STATUS OF WORKERS IN THE BRONZE CASTING INDUSTRY IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

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