HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF FACTORY WORKERS IN THE BOTTLING AND BREWING INDUSTRIES IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE-A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The International Labour Organisation states that 80% of occupational injuries worldwide are largely preventable if available health and safety interventions are carried out. Factory workers in the beverage industries are particularly exposed to occupational hazards, injuries and work related diseases.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the health risk of factory workers and compare between the bottling and brewing industries in Benin City, Edo State.
MATERIALS AND METHOD: A comparative cross sectional analytical study was carried out in Benin City, Edo State. Two hundred and one respondents in the bottling industry and 148 respondents in the brewing industry participated. This study was conducted using researcher administered questionnaires, an observational checklist for the workplace and an in-depth interview guide for the human resources officers. Data was analysed using SPSS version 16.0, STATCALC and PEPI software version 4.4.
RESULT: The mean age of respondents was 30.2 ± 7.9 years in the bottling industry and 39.8 ± 12.2 years in the brewing industry (t = 8.91, p = 0.000, 95% CI = 7.48 – 11.71). A majority of respondents in the bottling ( 94.7%) and brewing industries ( 90.5%) were male, while the mean duration of employment was 4.8 ± 3.4 and 11.31 ± 9.6 years (t = 8.89, p = 0.000, 95% CI = 5.07 – 7.95) in the bottling and brewing industries respectively. Mechanical hazards were the major hazard identified in both Industries. The mean level of noise was within the permissible exposure limit of < 90dBA at 75.5 ± 12.1 dBA in the bottling industry and 72.2 ± 12.1 dBA in the brewing industry, the mean particulate concentration in air was within the permissible exposure limit of < 0.25mg/m3 at 0.01 ± 0.01mg/m3 in the bottling industry and 0.02 ± 0.01mg/m3 in the brewing industry. The prevalence of self reported occupational injuries in the industries per 1000 workers per
15
year was 263 in the bottling and 506 in the brewing industries. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity were 26.4%, 0.01% and 5.5% respectively in the bottling industry, and 30.4%, 2.7% and 12.1% in the brewing industry. The proportion of respondents with a good practice of occupational health and safety ( OHS ) was 74.1% in the bottling industry compared to 16.9% in the brewing industry. Generally, while the practice of OHS in the brewing industry was poor, it improved with increasing age, being married, increasing duration of employment and increasing level of education of respondents. There were no such associations seen in the bottling industry. Workers in the brewing industry did not receive safety training in the preceding 12 months unlike workers in the bottling company. The use of PPEs was better among workers in the bottling industry and most respondents in the bottling industry had a pre –employment medical examination (OR = 1.99, 95%CI =1.26 – 3.13).
CONCLUSION: Hazards identified, mainly mechanical hazards, were similar in both Industries even though the mean level of noise and particulate concentration in air were within the permissible exposure limits. The prevalence of self reported occupational injuries was higher in the brewing industry so also was the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity. The practice of OHS was good in the bottling industry but poor in the brewing industry.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Regular safety programmes and training should be instituted, health risk assessments and medical examinations should be the norm, adequate PPEs should

HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF FACTORY WORKERS IN THE BOTTLING AND BREWING INDUSTRIES IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE-A COMPARATIVE STUDY