Saf Health Work.  2014 Jun;5(2):106-111. 10.1016/j.shaw.2014.02.001.

Occupational Hazards and Safety Measures Amongst the Paint Factory Workers in Lagos, Nigeria

• Awodele O
• Popoola TD
• Ogbudu BS
• Akinyede A
• Coker HA
• Akintonwa

• KMID: 2381946
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2014.02.001

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The manufacture of paint involves a variety of processes that present with medical hazards. Safety initiatives are hence introduced to limit hazard exposures and promote workplace safety. This aim of this study is to assess the use of available control measures/initiatives in selected paint factories in Lagos West Senatorial District, Nigeria.
METHODS
A total of 400 randomly selected paint factory workers were involved in the study. A well-structured World Health Organization standard questionnaire was designed and distributed to the workers to elicit information on awareness to occupational hazards, use of personal protective devices, and commonly experienced adverse symptoms. Urine samples were obtained from 50 workers randomly selected from these 400 participants, and the concentrations of the heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, and chromium) were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy.
RESULTS
The results show that 72.5% of the respondents are aware of the hazards associated with their jobs; 30% have had formal training on hazards and safety measures; 40% do not use personal protective devices, and 90% of the respondents reported symptoms relating to hazard exposure. There was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in the mean heavy metal concentrations in the urine samples obtained from paint factory workers as compared with nonfactory workers.
CONCLUSION
The need to develop effective frameworks that will initiate the integration and ensure implementation of safety regulations in paint factories is evident. Where these exist, there is a need to promote adherence to these practice guidelines.

Keyword

hazard exposure; heavy metals; occupational hazard; paint factories; safety regulations; workers

MeSH Terms

Absorption
Arsenic
Cadmium
Humans
Metals, Heavy
Nigeria*
Paint*
Protective Devices
Surveys and Questionnaires
Social Control, Formal
Spectrum Analysis
World Health Organization
Arsenic
Cadmium
Metals, Heavy