Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Welders’ Knowledge of Personal Protective Equipment Usage and Occupational Hazards Awareness in the Ghanaian Informal Auto-mechanic Industrial Sector

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Advances in Safety Management and Human Factors (AHFE 2019)

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 969))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

This study explored the knowledge of informal auto-mechanics welders on personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, and their levels of occupational hazards awareness associated with the welding activity. Guided by OSHA’s 2014 Hazards Assessment Checklist, and interviews, data was collected from three auto-mechanic shops engaged in welding activities in Volta Region of Ghana. Based on the analysis, it is established that the informal auto-mechanic welders generally lack knowledge on significant PPE requirement associated with the welding activities. they also lack awareness of occupational hazards associated with physical elements of the welding activities, even though they showed semblance of awareness in relation to others that are chemical-oriented. It is concluded that though the informal auto-mechanics engaged in welding activities have the requisite expertise and skills to perform their tasks, their knowledge of PPE usage and their awareness levels of occupational hazards associated with the welding activities seemed to be generally constrained.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. ILO/CIS: International Hazards Datasheet on Occupation - Welder, Arc. The HDOEDIT Program (1999). http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/-ed_protect/-protrav/-safework/documents/publication/wcms_190162.pdf. Accessed 12 July 2018

  2. Zgambo, J.: Occupational hazards and use of personal protective equipment among small scale welders in Lusaka, Zambia. M.Phil Thesis, Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway (2015). http://bora.uib.no/bitstream/handle/1956/10194/133483529.pdf?sequence=1). Accessed 12 July 2018

  3. Amfo-Otu, R., Agyemang, J.K.: Occupational health hazards and safety practices among the informal sector auto mechanics. Appl. Res. J. 2(1), 59–69 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ametepeh, R.S.: Occupational health and safety of the informal service sector in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolitan area. M.Sc Thesis, Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana (2011). http://ir.knust.edu.gh/bitstream/123456789/2158/1/Rejoice%20Selorm%20Ametepeh.pdf. Accessed 10 July 2018

  5. Waldman-Brown, A., Obeng, G.Y., Adu-Gyamfi, Y., Langevin, S., Adam, A.: Fabbing for Africa’s informal sector. In: 9th International Fab Lab Conference (2013). http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.635.8804&rep=rep1&type=pdf. Accessed 10 July 2018

  6. Ametepeh, R.S., Adei, D., Arhin, A.A.: Occupational health hazards and safety of the informal sector in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolitan area of Ghana. Res. Hum. Soc. Sci. 3(20), 87–99 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Brown, N.J.: Health Hazards Manual for Autobody Shop Workers. Cornell University, Chemical Hazard Information Program, Ithaca (1990). http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/manuals/7. Accessed 20 July 2018

  8. International Labour Office: Estimating the Economic Costs of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in Developing Countries: Essential Information for Decision-Makers. International Labour Organization, Geneva (2012). https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/-ed_protect/-protrav/-safework/documents/publication/wcms_207690.pdf. Accessed 15 July 2018

  9. Ricci, F., Chiesi, A., Bisio, C., Panari, C., Pelosi, A.: Effectiveness of occupational health and safety training. J. Workplace Learn. 28(6), 355–377 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. OSHA: Personal Protective Equipment. U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA 3151-12R (2004). https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3151.pdf. Accessed 15 July 2018

  11. Jinadu, M.K.: Occupational health problems of motor vehicle mechanics, welders, and painters in Nigeria. R. Soc. Health J. 102(3), 130–132 (1982)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Ahmad, I., Balkhyour, M.A., Abokhashabah, T.M.: Workplace safety and health conditions and facilities in small industries in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. J. Saf. Stud. 3(1), 2377–3219 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Sithole, H.L., Oduntan, O.A., Oriowo, M.O.: Eye protection practices and symptoms among welders in the Limpopo Province of South Africa+. Afr. Vis. Eye Health 68(3), 130–136 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Budhathoki, S.S., Singh, S.B., Sagtani, R.A., Niraula, S.R., Pokharel, P.K.: Awareness of occupational hazards and use of safety measures among welders: a cross sectional study from Eastern Nepal. BMJ Open 4(6), e004646 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Sabitu, K., Iliyasu, Z., Dauda, M.M.: Awareness of occupational hazards and utilization of safety measures among welders in Kaduna Metropolis, Northern Nigeria. Ann. Afr. Med. 8(1), 46–51 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Goff, T.: Flexible welding protection. Occup. Health Saf. 75, 32–34 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Occupational Health & Safety Act (85 of 1993) of South Africa; as Amended by Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act, No. 181 of 1993, Labour Relations Act, No. 66 of 1995, South Africa (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Sheedy, J.E., Edlich, R.F.: Ultraviolet eye radiation: the problem and solutions. J. Long Term Eff. Med. Implants 14(1), 67–71 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME): Health and safety fact sheet: Welding Hazards. AFSCME Research & Collective Bargaining Department, Health and Safety Program, NW Washington, DC (2004). https://www.afscme.org/news/publications/workplace-health-and-safety/fact-sheets/pdf/Welding-Hazards-AFSCME-fact-sheet.pdf. Accessed 10 July 2018

  20. Tadesse, S., Bezabih, K., Destaw, B., Assefa, Y.: Awareness of occupational hazards and associated factors among welders in Lideta Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. J. Occup. Med. Toxicol. 11, 15 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Kumar, S.G., Dharanipriya, A.: Prevalence and pattern of occupational injuries at workplace among welders in Coastal South India. Indian J. Occup. Environ. Med. 18, 135–139 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. OSHA: Hazard Assessment Checklist (2014). https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/etools/09-031/HazAssessCheck.pdf. Accessed 10 July 2018

  23. Okwabi, R., Agyeman, S., Nyanor, P.: An assessment of informal sector garage workers’ safety awareness at the Odorna garages in Accra. Ghana. Int. J. Sci. Res. Publ. 6(5), 212–216 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Jani, V., Mazumdar, V.S.: Prevalence of respiratory morbidity among welders in unorganized sector of Baroda city. Indian J. Occup. Environ. Med. 8, 16–21 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Ghana Business School, Legon, P. O. Box LG 78, Accra, Ghana

    Mohammed-Aminu Sanda & Juliet Nugble

  2. Luleå University of Technology, SE 97187, Luleå, Sweden

    Mohammed-Aminu Sanda

Authors
  1. Mohammed-Aminu Sanda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Juliet Nugble
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammed-Aminu Sanda .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. DPS, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Pedro M. Arezes

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Sanda, MA., Nugble, J. (2020). Welders’ Knowledge of Personal Protective Equipment Usage and Occupational Hazards Awareness in the Ghanaian Informal Auto-mechanic Industrial Sector. In: Arezes, P. (eds) Advances in Safety Management and Human Factors. AHFE 2019. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 969. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20497-6_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20497-6_11

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-20496-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-20497-6

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics