CASE STUDY OF UMUOGHARA, EZZA NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
EBONYI STATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Occupational health is the discipline that promotes
the physical, mental and social
wellbeing of man in his work place by ensuring through anticipation, evaluation
and control that the work place, exposures and in machines are at optimum
states that do not produce observable impairment in the health, productivity
and efficiency of the worker.
Historically, human from the beginning of the time
have practised occupational medicine in one way or the other but the first
occupational health issue seen was on the relationship between the diseases of
miners and their work made by Georgius Agricola (1494-1555) in metal mining
published in 1556 and by Paracelsus on his monograph on occupational diseases
of mine and smelter workers published eleven years later in 15672.
In 1713, Bernadinho Ramazzini (1633-1714), published the first systematic study
on the influence that work may have on health. He emphasized the importance of
questioning the patient about his occupation as this may be vital in the
management of the patient. He wrote what was the first text book in the subject
tittled “De mobis Artificum Diatriba and was therefore rightly acclaimed the
father of occupational medicine.
Later in 1775, Percival pott (1713-1788), a surgeon at
St. Bartholomen )’s hospital, London associated soot as a cause of scrotal
cancer in Chimney Sweepers, and Charles Turner Thackrah (1795-1833), a British
Physician Published the first Book on occupational medicine in 1831. Sir Thomas
Morrison Legge in 1899 introduced the idea of notifying occupational disease
especially lead poisoning, and is also the brain behind the legge’s aphorisms.
In Nigeria the first indigenous occupational health
service was by the Nigerian Railway Corporation in 1899, followed by the
Nigerian Coal Corporation in 1909. The development of occupational health in
Nigeria has however taken a rather slow pace over past decades.
In Enugu, Nigeria, Nwogu, in 1981 did an experiment on
coal miners, considering the varying length of service and location of work
they found out a significant difference in hearing loss between the two groups
that can be accounted for by exposure to noise. In a similar study in Zambia it
was found out among copper to conduct audiometric tests on them. Among 30 workers
who had spent over 20 years working underground as miners, 7 were completely
deaf in both ears. It was also observed in the study that the commonest
complaint was tinnitus which was worse at night.
In Kaduna North – Western Nigerian, a study done by sufiyan
M.B. and Ogunleye O.O. on the awareness and compliance with safety protective
devices among Zaria workers shows that majority of respondents (97.3%) were
aware of safety protective devices. A total of 89.2% use at least one safety of
protective device (SPD) at work; 71.6% use the devices always.
In a study done in Umuoghara, Ebonyi State, Nigeria by
A.N. Nwibo, E.I. Ugwuja et al on the respritory problems among quarry workers
showed that chest pain constituted 47.6%, occasional cough (40.7%) shortness of
breath (6.5%) , wheezing (5.2%).
Considering these problems, this study is aimed at
training and enlightenment of the workers to help them reduce these problems to
the barest minimum, knowing that quarrying has become a source of employment to
many and hence a means of livelihood.
Justification of the study
Stone
quarrying or mining is a very hazardous job in which workers are exposed to
various hazards which can gain entry into their bodies through inhalation, skin
contact, ingestion and infection2. By skin coming in contact with
irritating substances, skin infections such as dermatitis can result.
Inhalation
of respritory sensitizers can give rise to asthma, silicosis, and even
penumoconiosis.
Badly
designed work stations or awkward body posture or repetitive movement results
in upper limb disorders, strain injury and other musclo skeletal conditions.
Excessive
noise can leads to deafness and tinnitus (noise at work regulation 1989).
Vibratory
syndrome and circulatory problems can also result to too much vibration.
Skin
burns, skin can also result from exposure to ionizing and non-ionizing
radiation.
Belevance of the study
This study is very essential for the
quarry workers ensuring that they are in good state of health because it
ensures that appropriate and adequate awareness is brought to the door steps of
all quarry workers which will make very clear in their minds the possible
health hazards they may be exposed to in course of their works and
precautionary measures they should take in order to avoid or limit such
exposures. Such problems include: pneumoconiosis, silicosis skin burns, skin
cancers, dermatitis, vibratiory disorders, circulatory problem deafness etc.
They will also be taught how to
handle the machines and how the machines can be redesigned to avoid generating
health hazards for them. The study will also let them know how over exposure to
these hazards will be regulated through reduction of variation of exposure.
They study will also make very
clear, the prevalence, incidence, and the age and even sex mostly affected by
these occupational health hazards.
Statement of the Problem EMS
Stone quarrying or mining is a very
risky job and workers are exposed to a lot of health hazards. The hazards can
be as follows:
(a)
chemical hazards:
Quarry workers are exposed to chemical agents from
quarry such as silica, asbestos, coal dust, etc which can give to respiratory
problems. The work done by A.N. Nwibo, E.I. Ugwuja in Ebonyi State, Nigeria on
respiratory problems among quarry wokers showed that 47.6% had chest pain,
40.7% had occasional cough, 6.5% had occasional shortness of breath and 5. 2 %
had wheezing among 403 qurarry woekres studied.
(b)
mechanical injury
This injury results from accidents in course of using
machines and some tools.
In the study done in Kaduna, Nigeria on the awareness,
compliance, pattern of injury, and safety protective device among quarry
workers by Sufiyan and Ogunleye, it showed that among the 94 workers studied,
80% had hand injury, 30% had leg injury, 11.7% had eye injury and 8.3% had
facial injury.
(C)
Physical hazards: These are hazards caused by physical agents such as noise,
excessive heats radiation, pressure, vibration etc. This can also constitute a
lot of hazards among quarry workers, though the exact prevalence is not clear.
(e)
Social or psychological hazards related to organization in the work place
example the workers, relationship with his fellows workers or mismanagement.
This usually occurs when there is lack of understanding between workers and the
management.
General Objectives
This is to ascertain the types of health hazards faced
by quarry workers or miners in Umuoghara, Ezza North Local Government Area,
Ebonyi State.
Specific Objectives
(a)
To assess the type of health hazards resulting from quarry in Umuoghara.
(b) To asses the knowledge of the
workers on the hazards of their occupation.
(c) To establish factors predisposing
them to these health hazards.
(d) To evaluate the knowledge and use of
personal protective equipments among quarry workers in Umuoghara.
Literature Review on community Medicine project
(1)
Occupational health is the discipline which deals with the promotion of the
physical, mental and social well being of man in the work place by ensuring
through anoicipatio, evaluation and control that the work at optimium states
that do not produce observation impairement in the health, productivity and
efficiency of the workers.
Historically,
mankind from the
(2)
Beginning have practiced occupational
medicine in one way or the other; but the first occupational health issue was
on the relationship between the diseases of miners and their work made by
Georgius Agricola (1495-1555) in metal mining published in 1556 and in 1493 –
1541; parace drafted his monograph on occupational diseases of miners and
smilters which was
(3)
Published eleven years later in 1567. In 1713, Bernadino Ramazzini (1633-1714);
published the first systematic study on the influence that work may have on
health. He emphasized the importance of questioning the patient about his
occupational as this may have the utmost weight on the management of the
patient.
He wrote what was the first text book in the subject
titled “Demorbis Artificum Diatriba” and was therefore rightly acclauims the
father of the occupational medicine. Other promise names associated with the
evoluation of occupational medicine include: Percival pott (1713-1788) who
associated soot with scrota to cancer in chimney sweepers in 1775; Charles
turner Thanckrad (1795-1833) a Bristish physician who published the first
British Book on occupational medicine in 1831.
Sir, Thomas Morrision legge in 1899 introduced the
ideal of notifying occupational diseases sepecially lead poisoning and is also
the brain behind the legg’s aphorism.
In Singapore, lee Hock Siang 1995 did an experiment on
mineral dusts considering the varying laught of service and location of work,
at the end, 362 cases of silicisis had been verified, 8% of which were
counteracted in granite quarries.
In Nigeria, the first indigenous occupational health
service was by the Nigeria railway corporation in 1899 followed by Nigerian
Coal Corporation in 1909. In Enugu Nigeria Nwagu; in (1981) did an experiment
on coal miners, considering the varying langht of service and location of work.
He found a significant different in heaving loss between the two groups that
can be account’s for only by exposure to noise. In a similar study in zambia,
it was found out among copper to conduct…………test on them. Among 30 workers who
had spent over 20 years working underground as miners (7) were completely deaf
in both ears. It was also observed in the study that the commonest complaint
was the tinnitus which was worse at right.
In a study by Aliu et al; (2006) to determine the
occupational hazards and safety measures among stone quarry workers in
zambia northern Nigeria. A total of 74
workers ware interviewed, their ages ranging from 15-59 years. They found out
the most of the workers had injuries from stones (68.9%); respiratory symptoms
(52.3%); eye irritation (14.9%) and
difit amputations, peak expriratory flow values of most of te workers were
abnormal (55.4%). They then concluded that most wokers are at risk of serous
ill- health and injuries / accident because in their work places. Some of the
health hazards these wokers are exposed to include: Loud noise vibration,
particulate diest, mechanical injuries, exposure to intens sunlight and
radiation on etc. The study on the pattern of occupational hazards,
prorison.
Of occupational health services and safety among
workers of Kaduna refinery and petrol chemical company limited; a total of 250
respodents participated in the study. Most of the respondents were in the age
range of 30-44 years; of the respondents 90% were aware of occupational hazards
they were exposed to. These include chemical (90%) noise pollution (64.5%) and
machine (58,3%) forty –four percent (44%) of respondents have had injury in
course of their works. The comment injuries the respondents were aware of in
conducts / lacerations (58.7%) ; and bruises (15.6%) were aware of safety
measure in the work place and majority (92.1%) had forward and majority (92.
1%) had formal training on occupational safety most of the respondents (78%)
admitter to regular use of protectivies device.
Reasons given for non-regular use were: feeds
uncomfortable (29.1%), makes work difficult to perform (25.5%) and no cogent
reason (23.6%).
Another Study done by Aliju, reviewed that 8% were
silicosis. A followed up Surkey of 1230 quarry workers carried out in 1971
showed that 15% had silicosis.
The study carried by Department of Environmental
Health Collage Science University of Shargah; united Arab Emirate among cement
workers 153 workers were used, it assessed the knowledge of occupational health
hazards and results showed that majority 114 (4.5%) of the workers knew that
exposure to health but only 52. 9% of the workers knew the hazards other than
the dust also were associated with work. All the workers mentioned that they
have been provided with mask to protect them from the dust. Only 28.8% of them
claimed they use it (9.2%) had low knowledge of it, (26.8%) had moderate
knowledge.
In Ebonyi State, Nigeria a study was done to determine
the prevalence of respiratory problems and lung function impairment among
quarry workers by AN Nwibo, E.L. Ugwuja, NO Nwambeke, O.E. Eme Lumadu, L.U.
Ogbonnaya. 403 quarry workers aged 10-50 years were used to carry out the
study.
To establish factors predisposing them
to these health hazards
There are so many factors that can predispose them to
health hazards. For example occupational exposure to dust is a well known
phenomenon especially in developing countries source of air pollution including
power plant, cement factories refineries and petrochemical industries, the
emission of particulates is quite high from quarries.
Based
on radiological study function impairment was significantly associated with
increasing age, duration of exposure to dust, smoking status and presence of
chronic obstructive airways disease. On radiological study, it was shown that
dust generated from granite quarrying contain 71% silica.
To evaluate knowledge and use of
personal protective equipment among quarry workers in Umuoghara
The knowledge and use of personal
protective equipments among quarry workers in umuoghara according to the study
carried out by AN. Nwaibo, EL, Ugwuja, et al showed that almost all the quarry
workers (98.3%) used no self protective devices. Only (0.5%) used either apron
or other protective devices while working.