Job Safety Assessment of Woodwork Industry in the South-western Nigeria

Abstract

This study carried out a job safety assessment of 23 woodwork industry in Southwest Nigeria. Using detailed analytical-descriptive survey involving 310 woodworkers, assessment was carried out through interview and Job Safety Analysis (JSA).85.5% of total response have suffered injuries. Manual lifting (99.2%), forceful gripping (97.3%), wood dust (78.6%) and hazardous substances (75.4%) were the reported common risk factors with some causal link between operations, as finishing (70.8%), planning/scrapings (63.3%), hammering (57.5%), and work-related injuries. The JSA team rated high (67%-90%) the risk of; environmental hazards, caught-in-moving parts, bruises/cuts, hazardous substance inhalation. Improper dressing and personal protective equipment inadequacy were rated 80% and 74% respectively. Risk priority number gain showed; dust, clamp spindle, pinch-point, rotating blade, hammer head, nail, chemicals as most prior risks. The JSA provided knowledge based tool of the likelihood of hazards, causes, consequences and recommended procedures to eradicate hazards and enhances occupational health and safety of the workers.