HAZARD PERCEPTIONS AND SELF-REPORTED NON INJURY OCCUPATIONAL AILMENTS AMONG ROAD CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN THREE MIDDLE ZONE REGIONS OF GHANA
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Date
2022
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Ghana Journal Of Sciences
Abstract
Road construction activities are hazardous. Workers are exposed to hazards with high
probability of illness, injury, disability or death. The objective was to determine road workers'
perceptions of occupational hazards, ailments experienced and health seeking behaviour. This
was an institution-based descriptive cross-sectional study using open-ended questions. A total
of 353 road workers from Ashanti, Ahafo and Western North regions reported work-related
hazards and ranked the top-3. Workers in each craft/stratum who gave consent were included
in the study and interviewed. They also reported work-related ailments and health-seeking
behaviour. The workers were primarily young (mean age 32.4 years) and male (97.7%). Most
(70.2%) workers were contract/casual staff. Thirty eight hazards were reported, with the
top five being dust (91.5% of workers reported this), extreme temperatures (72.0%), noise
(40.5%), fumes (21.8%) and vehicles/trucks (21.1%). Most (86.8%) workers reported a work related
ailment, with the most common being cough (41.1%) and headache (18.9%). Most
(87.8%) workers with ailments sought treatment of any kind. Road construction workers in
these regions of Ghana have good appreciation of hazards at work and the dangers they pose.
Works supervisors should encourage workers on PPE use against dust, noise, fumes and good
housekeeping. Regular worker-training on hazards is recommended.
Description
This article is published by Ghana Journal Of Sciences and is also available at https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gjs.v63i2.7