Assessment of occupational injuries in tendaho Agricultural development S.C, afar regional state
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Date
2007-03
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Background: Occupational injuries pose a major public health and development problem. At
present the problem of occupational injuries in work place is increasing in many developing
countries including Ethiopia, mainly caused by unsafe work environments or human factors.
Objectives: This study was aimed to determine the magnitude of occupational injuries and
identifying factors related to this injury among workers.
Methods: Cross-sectional study design was employed to assess occupational injuries among
Tendaho Agricultural Development S.C workers, Afar Regional State. The enterprise was
first stratified by working departments and working sections. A total of 810 workers were
involved in the study based on proportional allocation to size. Study subjects were selected
using simple random sampling technique. Data collection was made using pre-tested
questionnaire. Work environment observation, physical examination, and reviewing injury
records were also employed to complement self reported information.
Results: The overall occupational injury prevalence rate was 783 per1000 exposed workers
per year. Seventy (11%) injured workers were hospitalized. Most (90%) of hospitalization
was more than 24 hours. One death was also reported in the last 12 months. A total of 6153
work days were lost, being 11.4 days lost on average per an injured worker. Working more
than 48 hours per week [AOR: 8.27, 95% CI:(4.96-13.79)], absence of health and safety
training [AOR: 2.87, 95% CI: (1.02-8.06)], sleeping disorder [AOR: 1.64, 95% CI: (1.12-
2.41)], alcohol drink [AOR: 1.72, 95% CI: (1.06-2.80)], job dissatisfaction [OR: 1.83, 95%
CI: (1.30-2.58)] and absence of protective devices [OR: 3.18, (1.40-7.23)] were significant
factors to occupational injuries.
Conclusion: Working more than 48 hours per week, absence of health and safety training,
sleeping disorder, alcohol drink, job dissatisfaction and absence of protective devices
increases the risk of occupational injuries. Ongoing health and safety information and/or
training, periodic supervision, and occupational health and safety services above all should be
emphasized to promote health and safety conditions of the worker.
Key words: Occupational injuries; magnitude; determinants; severity; Tendaho Agricultural
Development S.C.; Dubti State Farm; Dubti Ginning Factory; and Detbahri State Farm.
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Keywords
Occupational injuries; magnitude; determinants; severity; Tendaho Agricultural Development S.C.; Dubti State Farm; Dubti Ginning Factory; and Detbahri State Farm.