Assessment of Occupational Hazards in Sawmills: A Case Study

¹Odibo A.A., ¹Nwaogazie I.L., ²Achalu E.I., and ¹Ugbebor J.N.

¹Centre for Occupation Health, Safety and Environment, Faculty of Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

²Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Accepted April 23, 2018

The aim of this study was to assess the occupational hazards most of the Sawmills in Delta State, Nigeria exposed to. The study area was limited to 21 sawmill sites in three selected sawmill locations at Sapele, Warri and Udu, actively in operation within Delta State. The study involved both descriptive and inferential statistical approach. Purposive sampling technique was employed for identifying the three sawmill locations, while simple random sampling was used to select the participants for the study. The major instruments employed for data collection included Sound Level Meter (SLM) Integrated Averaging Sound Level Meter, standardize with 90 dBA and a structured questionnaire. The method of data analyses included descriptive and inferential statistics with Microsoft Office Excel. The major physical, chemical and mechanical hazards identified from the sampled sawmills were noise generated from machinery used within the mills, generated sawdust and unguarded machines, respectively. The estimated Noise Pollution Level (NPL) for the three sawmill locations was 101.08, 105.54 and 102.36 dBA for Sapele, Warri and Udu, respectively. These values are far higher than the acceptable limits by National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NOISH), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) with the equivalent noise levels (L_eq) of 101.02 dBA, 97.72 dBA and 100.91 dBA for Sapele, Warri and Udu sawmills, respectively. This study revealed that 56.6% of the workers are at risk of induced deafness due to unhealthy exposure to noise doses of 258%, 202% and 256% for Sapele, Warri and Udu sawmills, respectively over a nine hours working duration. Among others, safety education intervention, shift schedules and workers being properly kitted before being allowed to work were recommended.

Key words: Occupational Hazards, Sawmill, Noise Pollution Level, Delta State, Noise Doses.

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