Magnitude of occupational exposure to noise, heat and associated factors among sugarcane factory workers in Ethiopia, 20
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Magnitude of occupational exposure to noise, heat and associated factors among sugarcane factory workers in Ethiopia, 2017 Getachew Redae Taffere 1
&
Mitiku Bonsa 2 & Mulubirhan Assefa 1
Received: 4 July 2018 / Accepted: 3 April 2019 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2019
Abstract Background Industrialisation in Ethiopia is gaining momentum, with the objective of transforming the traditional, agriculturedependent economy. However, occupational health and safety is not in place to address health risks. Objective Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of occupational exposure to noise, heat and associated factors among Metehara sugarcane factory workers. Method To this effect, a cross-sectional study was employed involving 552 workers and using stratified random sampling techniques. Data were collected by a pre-tested, structured, interview-administered questionnaire and hazard and risk analysis checklist. Noise levels were measured by hand-held, model HD600 sound level meters. Heat levels were assessed using Bheat stress (HT) 30^ area heat stress monitors. Data were entered into Epi Info 7 software and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Results The results show that 418 (75.7%) and 243 (44%) workers were exposed to excessive heat and noise, respectively. Lack of labour inspections and safety audits, lack of personal protective equipment, absence of job rotation and job dissatisfaction were associated significantly with adjusted odds ratios (AORs) at 6.74 (2.65, 7.12), 6.62 (2.48, 7.62), 2.13 (1.35, 3.36), 2.44 (1.31, 4.53) and 5.4 (3.22, 9.06), respectively. Occupational exposure to heat and noise were found to exceed occupational exposure limits. Hence, the prevention of occupational exposure targeted at the identified factors is crucial. Keywords Occupational exposure . Noise . Heat . Sugarcane factory . Ethiopia
Background The narrow base of the industrial sector in Ethiopia has always presented a challenge, with significant implications for the country’s capacity to generate foreign exchange and create job opportunities for its growing labour force. In the Ethiopian growth and transformation plan, the industry sector receives a lot of support by way of encouraging export-based and import-substituting industries, with sugarcane factories as Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-019-01070-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Getachew Redae Taffere [email protected] 1
School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
2
Federal Police Communion and Medewelabu University, Bale Robe, Ethiopia
a priority (MoFED 2010). However, occupational health and safety practices are not adequately in place in the country in general, and in sugar factories in particular. Thousands of workers are believed to have been affected in the sector. Literature in this regard has pinpointed thousands of deaths and exposures
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