A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SAFETY PRACTICES AND WORKPLACE IN INJURIES AMONG SPRAY PAINTERS AND AUTO MECHANICS IN LAGOS STATE

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SAFETY PRACTICES AND WORKPLACE IN INJURIES AMONG SPRAY PAINTERS AND AUTO MECHANICS IN LAGOS STATE

Abstract

Introduction: Annually, there are an estimated number of 271 million people with workplace injuries throughout the world with involvement in poor safety practices at their workplaces, thereby affecting the totality of man in providing an efficient and effective productivity. An estimated economic loss caused by workplace injuries resulting in a 4% of the world’s Gross National Product, affecting the lives of the family members of the workers. The study was carried out in order to determine the knowledge, attitude and safety practices with the different pattern of workplace injuries and the associated factors among the spray painters and auto mechanics in Lagos State.
Materials and methods: This study was a comparative cross sectional study conducted from May to June 2012. A multistage sampling method was used to select 180 spray painters and 180 auto mechanics from five mechanic villages in the five administrative divisions of Lagos State. Trained data collectors administered pre-tested and standardized questionnaires, ten focus group discussions were conducted and observation checklist was also used. Data were analysed using Epi-Info 2008 version 3.5.1 and WinPepi software.
13
Results were presented in frequency tables. Chi- square test was used to assess the associations between categorical variables and t-test was used to compare the quantitative variables. The level of significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: The results showed that the level of good knowledge of safety practices among the spray painters was 42.2% while it was 23.1% among the auto mechanics. The observed difference was statistically significant among the two groups (p=0.001). The spray painters had 100% of them with positive attitude and among auto mechanics the attitude was 98.9%.There was no statistical significant difference in the attitude of both groups of workers(P=0.317). The level of good practices among the spray painters was of workers(P=0.317). The level of good practices among the spray painters was 38.2% and among the auto mechanics was 14.9%. There was a statistical significant difference in the practices towards safety in both groups of workers P=0.001.
The workplace injuries in the last twelve months that occurred among the spray painters 64(35.6%) were lower compared to what happened in the auto mechanics with 78(43.3%) occurrence. Ingestion of chemicals was 65.6% among the spray painters but was 15.4% among the auto mechanics. The occurrence of burns was 23.4% in the spray painters while among the automechanics, it was higher (98.7%). Difficulty with breathing was 84.4% was among the spray painters but was 12.8% among the auto mechanics. Those with cuts were 65.6% among the spray painters while it was 92.3% among the auto mechanics. The eye injury was 6.25% among the spray painters and was 14.1% among the auto mechanics.
The associated factors in relation to good knowledge among the spray painters on safety practices were found among the older age group, those who were married (42.5%), those with post primary education (46.6%) whereas among the auto mechanics the findings were
14
among the older age group with (20.5%), the single (40.7%) and those with secondary education of 26.7%. Those who were trained for more number of years among the spray painters sustained less injury while among the auto mechanics, less injury was also reported. There was a statistically significant difference in both groups. Those who had health and safety training sustained less injury among the two groups of workers with statistically significant difference among the spray painters and not among the auto mechanics.
Other associated factors were the duration of practice as a master among the spray painters of more than ten years with 52.4% of safety practices and 16.8% among auto mechanics. This was not statistically significant among the two groups. The years of training and safety practices in both groups of workers were statistically significant. However, there was no statistical significant association between job satisfaction and smoking status with safety practices in both groups of workers. Furthermore, there was a statistical significant association between the safety practices and occurrence of injury among the auto mechanics but this was not statistically significant among the spray painters.
Conclusions and Recommendations: Findings from both the quantitative and qualitative surveys revealed that the knowledge, attitude and safety practices of spray painters were much better when compared to the auto mechanics and increased rate of workplace injuries were observed in both groups. From this study done, there should be a regular training on safety practices among these workers starting from apprenticeship level, encouraging individual ownership and commitment to safety issues at work. Provision of preventive measures concerning functional occupational health and safety programs with healthcare services in place at workplace are all essential to safeguard the health and safety conditions of these workers.

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

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SAFETY PRACTICES AND WORKPLACE IN INJURIES AMONG SPRAY PAINTERS AND AUTO MECHANICS IN LAGOS STATE