Abstract:
The exposure to hazards from office cleaning, sweeping, janitorial services,
fumigation, weeding, operating of pump stations and solid waste collection puts
sanitary workers at risk of accidents and ailments. This study sought to identify work related hazards, assess health and safety measures and develop a risk ranking system
among private and public sanitary workers. The study employed a cross-sectional
descriptive study design and multistage sampling technique. A total of 385 sanitary
workers selected from private companies (257) and public institutions (128)
participated in this study. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with the
use of semi-structured questionnaires. Chi-square and odds ratio analysis were to
determine the association between work-related accidents and some specific variables
among the private and public sectors using the Microsoft Excel and SPSS software
version 25. Females constituted about half (50.6%) of the total study respondents.
However, males dominated (77.3%) the public sanitation industry while in the private
sector about two-thirds (64.6%) were females. The results of work-related accidents
were more prevalent among sanitary workers in the private sector (57.3%). The
results showed that public-sector sanitary workers were twice more likely (OR: 2.12:
95% CI 1.38-3.27) to be involved in work-related accidents than private-sector
sanitary workers. Musculoskeletal disorders (75%) and respiratory infections (67%)
were the two commonest illnesses experienced by the sanitary workers in both
sectors. Comparatively, public sector workers constituted the majority that was
provided medical healthcare (56.3%) and refund (46.5%) as compared to the private
sector workers where the majority relied on self-medication (87.4%) and less than a
tenth (9.5%) were given refunds for medical treatment. Again, the majority of public
sector workers (60.9%) were medically screened as compared to the private sector
University of Education,Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh
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workers (4.7%). Street sweepers, formal solid waste collectors and janitors in health
institutions had the highest average work-related risk scores. There is the need for
policy makers to design a comprehensive health and safety policy that would focus on
training, the use of tools and protective equipment and proper medical healthcare
given to sanitary workers.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Public Health Education,
Faculty of Environment and Health Education, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award
of the degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Environmental and Occupational Health Education)
In the University of Education, Winneba