An Assessment of Occupational Health and Safety Services and Practices in Agro-allied Industries in Zaria Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2011-03-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Biological Sciences, Bayero University, Kano-Nigeria
Abstract
The health, safety and welfare of workers in and outside their workplaces have been an issue of concern for productivity. The agro-allied industries are known to be associated with a number of occupational hazards, diseases and injuries. This study was carried out to assess the occupational health programmes available in agro-allied industries in Zaria. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey approach involving 297 randomly selected employees in six (6) industries. Data were collected using a 20-item questionnaire. The findings revealed that a variety of occupational health services are available for workers; mainly emergency care services (first aid), safety measures, and waste disposal. Striking issues of low use (2.4%) of face masks and bucket systems of disposal of sewage (3.4%) in some of the industries were found. Health insurance, welfare services 9loan and housing schemes) and recreational activities were also found to be either grossly inadequate or even absent. It was recommended that in addition to a recommended enhanced health insurance scheme, there is need for improvement in waste disposal practices and motivator factors like housing facilities, recreation and soft loans for industrial workers.
Description
The study assessed workers' health and safety measures in agro-allied industries and found some available basic occupational health services such as emergency care services (first aid), safety measures, and waste disposal. But measures such as face masks health insurance, welfare services 9loan, and housing schemes) and recreational activities are inadequate or even absent. The study recommends improved waste disposal practices and the implementation of motivator factors
Keywords
Occupational health services, Agro-allied industries, Zaria, Safety measures
Citation
Anyebe, E.E., Abdul, A.J., Lawal, H. and Ibrahim, H.A. (2011). An Assessment of Occupational Health and Safety Services and Practices in Agro-allied Industries in Zaria Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Biological and Environmental Sciences Journal for the Tropics 8(1); 165-171.Published by Faculty of Biological Sciences, Bayero University, Kano-Nigeria