Assessing machinery safety procedures and health management in wood workshops’ operations in Kumasi

Abstract

In this study, safety and health management in the operation of woodworking machines as was examined in some selected wood workshops in Kumasi, Ghana. The specific objectives of the study were as follows; investigate the machine layout procedures use in the woodwork machine shops, evaluate the operating skills those who man the machine shop use that negatively affect their health and asses the maintenance practice adopted to make the machines safe to use and improves their efficiency. Data were collected using structured questionnaire. 69 respondent comprising 60 machine operators at the Kwadaso sawmill shop and 9 machines at Kumasi Technical Institute. Random Sampling technique was used to select nine machines at Kumasi Technical institute for the data collection while at Kwadaso sixty identify machines were also used in the study. Results of the study also indicated that KTI has a well-lay out woodwork machine shop whiles the Kwadaso woodwork machine shop has no layout plan, the machines and equipment used in KTI were bought new and installed by manufacturers and the needed operational practices that contribute to efficiency of the use of the machine and the safe and health of the users, whereas the machines in Kwadaso were ‘used machines’ purchased in the 1989 and 2000 without the knowledge of how long these machines were used before purchase and they were also not maintained appropriately as in the case of KTI where there is a planned scheduled maintenance, regular maintenance and parts are bought even before they are needed for replace during repairs and maintenance. Education level influenced the woodworking machine shop layout adopted in the areas of the study. Majority of the operators had their educational level up to the technical school level or below with their assistants having junior high level. Thus is the regular need for education and training on the use of the machines and their maintenance and strict observation and adherence to safety rules and regulations