KNOWLEDGE AND PREVENTIVE PRACTICES BY WELDERS EXPOSED TO WELDING AGENTS IN LAGELU LOCAL GOVERNMENT, IBADAN, OYO STATE

Abstract

Welding is an important industrial process. The commonly used type is the electric arc welding. Welding, when done inappropriately, poses as serious a danger to the health and safety of the welders and people around them. To help protect the safety of welders during welding, there is the need to use personal protective equipment. There is a dearth of information on the welder’s knowledge about exposure to welding agents. This study assessed welders’ knowledge of welding to the exposure to welding agents, possession and utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE) in Lagelu Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria. This was a community-based cross-sectional study design. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 150 welders in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. A self-administered pre-tested questionnaire and checklist were used to collect data from the response on demographic characteristics, work experience and exposure information, awareness of occupational hazards, awareness of PPE and hazards, use of PPE and acute health effects experienced as a result of failure to use personal protective equipment. Data were analysed using descriptive (frequencies) and inferential statistics, Chi-square and logistic linear equation at P with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical software, Version 18 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois, USA). Mean age to be 43.2 ± 13.6 years revealed that most of the respondents had secondary education and were predominantly apprenticeship-trained (82.7%) whose work experience ranged from less than 30 years to 60 years. More than two-thirds (69.0%) were aware of the hazardous nature of the welding job and (46.0%) know the importance of using PPE especially the eye goggles (94.0%). Overall, majority had a good knowledge (87.0%) about the use of PPE but some saw PPE as a waste of time (4.6%) and as a source of discomfort (6.6%). The most commonly mentioned health symptoms associated with not using PPE were general body weakness (89.0%) and cough (72.0%), 92.7% reportedly experienced eye problems from flashlight during welding, welding fumes and gases. Most of the welders had eye goggles (67.0%). Respondents with secondary or higher education were nearly three times (OR = 2.78, p = 0.138) likely to have fair/good knowledge of effects of welding agents. The study showed that (97.0%) of the welders are aware of at least one hazard of welding. Welders in this study are aware of the hazards involved in their chosen profession and the value of personal protective equipment (PPE) but their awareness did not translate to large possession of PPE except eye goggles. Their lack of use of the PPE keeps them exposed to health effects of welding which is a cause of concern and measures to prevent welders’ continuous exposure to hazards, acute health issues and injury should be further devised. Preventive occupational education with the active involvement of the welders’ association combined with legislative enforcement of the use of personal protective equipment should be implemented.