CASE STUDY OF UMUOGHARA, EZZA NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
EBONYI STATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Occupational health is the discipline that promotes the physical, mental and social wellbeing of man in his work place by ensuring through anticipation, evaluation and control that the work place, exposures and in machines are at optimum states that do not produce observable impairment in the health, productivity and efficiency of the worker.
Historically, human from the beginning of the time have practised occupational medicine in one way or the other but the first occupational health issue seen was on the relationship between the diseases of miners and their work made by Georgius Agricola (1494-1555) in metal mining published in 1556 and by Paracelsus on his monograph on occupational diseases of mine and smelter workers published eleven years later in 15672. In 1713, Bernadinho Ramazzini (1633-1714), published the first systematic study on the influence that work may have on health. He emphasized the importance of questioning the patient about his occupation as this may be vital in the management of the patient. He wrote what was the first text book in the subject tittled “De mobis Artificum Diatriba and was therefore rightly acclaimed the father of occupational medicine.
Later in 1775, Percival pott (1713-1788), a surgeon at St. Bartholomen )’s hospital, London associated soot as a cause of scrotal cancer in Chimney Sweepers, and Charles Turner Thackrah (1795-1833), a British Physician Published the first Book on occupational medicine in 1831. Sir Thomas Morrison Legge in 1899 introduced the idea of notifying occupational disease especially lead poisoning, and is also the brain behind the legge’s aphorisms.
In Nigeria the first indigenous occupational health service was by the Nigerian Railway Corporation in 1899, followed by the Nigerian Coal Corporation in 1909. The development of occupational health in Nigeria has however taken a rather slow pace over past decades.
In Enugu, Nigeria, Nwogu, in 1981 did an experiment on coal miners, considering the varying length of service and location of work they found out a significant difference in hearing loss between the two groups that can be accounted for by exposure to noise. In a similar study in Zambia it was found out among copper to conduct audiometric tests on them. Among 30 workers who had spent over 20 years working underground as miners, 7 were completely deaf in both ears. It was also observed in the study that the commonest complaint was tinnitus which was worse at night.
In Kaduna North – Western Nigerian, a study done by sufiyan M.B. and Ogunleye O.O. on the awareness and compliance with safety protective devices among Zaria workers shows that majority of respondents (97.3%) were aware of safety protective devices. A total of 89.2% use at least one safety of protective device (SPD) at work; 71.6% use the devices always.
In a study done in Umuoghara, Ebonyi State, Nigeria by A.N. Nwibo, E.I. Ugwuja et al on the respritory problems among quarry workers showed that chest pain constituted 47.6%, occasional cough (40.7%) shortness of breath (6.5%) , wheezing (5.2%).
Considering these problems, this study is aimed at training and enlightenment of the workers to help them reduce these problems to the barest minimum, knowing that quarrying has become a source of employment to many and hence a means of livelihood.
Justification of the study
Stone quarrying or mining is a very hazardous job in which workers are exposed to various hazards which can gain entry into their bodies through inhalation, skin contact, ingestion and infection2. By skin coming in contact with irritating substances, skin infections such as dermatitis can result.
Inhalation of respritory sensitizers can give rise to asthma, silicosis, and even penumoconiosis.
Badly designed work stations or awkward body posture or repetitive movement results in upper limb disorders, strain injury and other musclo skeletal conditions.
Excessive noise can leads to deafness and tinnitus (noise at work regulation 1989).
Vibratory syndrome and circulatory problems can also result to too much vibration.
Skin burns, skin can also result from exposure to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.
Belevance of the study
This study is very essential for the quarry workers ensuring that they are in good state of health because it ensures that appropriate and adequate awareness is brought to the door steps of all quarry workers which will make very clear in their minds the possible health hazards they may be exposed to in course of their works and precautionary measures they should take in order to avoid or limit such exposures. Such problems include: pneumoconiosis, silicosis skin burns, skin cancers, dermatitis, vibratiory disorders, circulatory problem deafness etc.
They will also be taught how to handle the machines and how the machines can be redesigned to avoid generating health hazards for them. The study will also let them know how over exposure to these hazards will be regulated through reduction of variation of exposure.
They study will also make very clear, the prevalence, incidence, and the age and even sex mostly affected by these occupational health hazards.
Statement of the Problem EMS
Stone quarrying or mining is a very risky job and workers are exposed to a lot of health hazards. The hazards can be as follows:
(a) chemical hazards:
Quarry workers are exposed to chemical agents from quarry such as silica, asbestos, coal dust, etc which can give to respiratory problems. The work done by A.N. Nwibo, E.I. Ugwuja in Ebonyi State, Nigeria on respiratory problems among quarry wokers showed that 47.6% had chest pain, 40.7% had occasional cough, 6.5% had occa
sional shortness of breath and 5. 2 % had wheezing among 403 qurarry woekres studied.
(b) mechanical injury
This injury results from accidents in course of using machines and some tools.
In the study done in Kaduna, Nigeria on the awareness, compliance, pattern of injury, and safety protective device among quarry workers by Sufiyan and Ogunleye, it showed that among the 94 workers studied, 80% had hand injury, 30% had leg injury, 11.7% had eye injury and 8.3% had facial injury.
(C) Physical hazards: These are hazards caused by physical agents such as noise, excessive heats radiation, pressure, vibration etc. This can also constitute a lot of hazards among quarry workers, though the exact prevalence is not clear.
(e) Social or psychological hazards related to organization in the work place example the workers, relationship with his fellows workers or mismanagement. This usually occurs when there is lack of understanding between workers and the management.
General Objectives
This is to ascertain the types of health hazards faced by quarry workers or miners in Umuoghara, Ezza North Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.
Specific Objectives
(a) To assess the type of health hazards resulting from quarry in Umuoghara.
(b) To asses the knowledge of the workers on the hazards of their occupation.
(c) To establish factors predisposing them to these health hazards.
(d) To evaluate the knowledge and use of personal protective equipments among quarry workers in Umuoghara.
Literature Review on community Medicine project
(1) Occupational health is the discipline which deals with the promotion of the physical, mental and social well being of man in the work place by ensuring through anoicipatio, evaluation and control that the work at optimium states that do not produce observation impairement in the health, productivity and efficiency of the workers.
Historically, mankind from the
(2) Beginning have practiced occupational medicine in one way or the other; but the first occupational health issue was on the relationship between the diseases of miners and their work made by Georgius Agricola (1495-1555) in metal mining published in 1556 and in 1493 – 1541; parace drafted his monograph on occupational diseases of miners and smilters which was
(3) Published eleven years later in 1567. In 1713, Bernadino Ramazzini (1633-1714); published the first systematic study on the influence that work may have on health. He emphasized the importance of questioning the patient about his occupational as this may have the utmost weight on the management of the patient.
He wrote what was the first text book in the subject titled “Demorbis Artificum Diatriba” and was therefore rightly acclauims the father of the occupational medicine. Other promise names associated with the evoluation of occupational medicine include: Percival pott (1713-1788) who associated soot with scrota to cancer in chimney sweepers in 1775; Charles turner Thanckrad (1795-1833) a Bristish physician who published the first British Book on occupational medicine in 1831.
Sir, Thomas Morrision legge in 1899 introduced the ideal of notifying occupational diseases sepecially lead poisoning and is also the brain behind the legg’s aphorism.
In Singapore, lee Hock Siang 1995 did an experiment on mineral dusts considering the varying laught of service and location of work, at the end, 362 cases of silicisis had been verified, 8% of which were counteracted in granite quarries.
In Nigeria, the first indigenous occupational health service was by the Nigeria railway corporation in 1899 followed by Nigerian Coal Corporation in 1909. In Enugu Nigeria Nwagu; in (1981) did an experiment on coal miners, considering the varying langht of service and location of work. He found a significant different in heaving loss between the two groups that can be account’s for only by exposure to noise. In a similar study in zambia, it was found out among copper to conduct…………test on them. Among 30 workers who had spent over 20 years working underground as miners (7) were completely deaf in both ears. It was also observed in the study that the commonest complaint was the tinnitus which was worse at right.
In a study by Aliu et al; (2006) to determine the occupational hazards and safety measures among stone quarry workers in zambia northern Nigeria. A total of 74 workers ware interviewed, their ages ranging from 15-59 years. They found out the most of the workers had injuries from stones (68.9%); respiratory symptoms (52.3%); eye irritation (14.9%) and difit amputations, peak expriratory flow values of most of te workers were abnormal (55.4%). They then concluded that most wokers are at risk of serous ill- health and injuries / accident because in their work places. Some of the health hazards these wokers are exposed to include: Loud noise vibration, particulate diest, mechanical injuries, exposure to intens sunlight and radiation on etc. The study on the pattern of occupational hazards, prorison.
Of occupational health services and safety among workers of Kaduna refinery and petrol chemical company limited; a total of 250 respodents participated in the study. Most of the respondents were in the age range of 30-44 years; of the respondents 90% were aware of occupational hazards they were exposed to. These include chemical (90%) noise pollution (64.5%) and machine (58,3%) forty –four percent (44%) of respondents have had injury in course of their works. The comment injuries the respondents were aware of in conducts / lacerations (58.7%) ; and bruises (15.6%) were aware of safety measure in the work place and majority (92.1%) had forward and majority (92. 1%) had formal training on occupational safety most of the respondents (78%) admitter to regular use of protectivies device.
Reasons given for non-regular use were: feeds uncomfortable (29.1%), makes work difficult to perform (25.5%) and no cogent reason (23.6%).
Another Study done by Aliju, reviewed that 8% were silicosis. A followed up Surkey of 1230 quarry workers carried out in 1971 showed that 15% had silicosis.
The study carried by Department of Environmental Health Collage Science University of Shargah; united Arab Emirate among cement workers 153 workers were used, it assessed the knowledge of occupational health hazards and results showed that majority 114 (4.5%) of the workers knew that exposure to health but only 52. 9% of the workers knew the hazards other than the dust also were associated with work. All the workers mentioned that they have been provided with mask to protect them from the dust. Only 28.8% of them claimed they use it (9.2%) had low knowledge of it, (26.8%) had moderate knowledge.
In Ebonyi State, Nigeria a study was done to determine the prevalence of respiratory problems and lung function impairment among quarry workers by AN Nwibo, E.L. Ugwuja, NO Nwambeke, O.E. Eme Lumadu, L.U. Ogbonnaya. 403 quarry workers aged 10-50 years were used to carry out the study.
To establish factors predisposing them to these health hazards
There are so many factors that can predispose them to health hazards. For example occupational exposure to dust is a well known phenomenon especially in developing countries source of air pollution including power plant, cement factories refineries and petrochemical industries, the emission of particulates is quite high from quarries. < /p>
Based on radiological study function impairment was significantly associated with increasing age, duration of exposure to dust, smoking status and presence of chronic obstructive airways disease. On radiological study, it was shown that dust generated from granite quarrying contain 71% silica.
To evaluate knowledge and use of personal protective equipment among quarry workers in Umuoghara
The knowledge and use of personal protective equipments among quarry workers in umuoghara according to the study carried out by AN. Nwaibo, EL, Ugwuja, et al showed that almost all the quarry workers (98.3%) used no self protective devices. Only (0.5%) used either apron or other protective devices while working.
Be the first to comment