Background: Despite the volume of existing literature on the prevalence of occupationrelated injuries in Africa, it is fragmented across a broader spectrum and difficult to quickly understand the average magnitude. Besides, there is a lack of empirical shreds of evidence on the regional pooled estimate. Hence, the study aimed to develop the regional pooled estimates of occupation-related injuries among workers in Africa's industries. Materials and Methods:The study followed preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. The used databases included Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library. Further, a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment was used for the critical appraisal of studies. The pooled prevalence of injury was computed using STATA version 14 statistical software. Funnel plot and Egger's tests were conducted to evaluate publication bias. The study assessed the heterogeneity using the I-squared test and Galbraith plot. Results: Out of 603 accessed studies, 20 that met the eligibility criteria were included. The pooled prevalence of occupational injury in Africa was 57% (95% CI: 48, 67). Totally, 62% (95% CI: 44, 77), 57% (95% CI: 38, 76), and 51% (95% CI: 32, 69) of injuries were identified in the manufacturing, construction, and mining sites, respectively, based on the subgroup analysis. Conclusions: The rate of occupation-related injuries is dramatically increasing. Such injury is one of the immense concerns for workers' health and safety in Africa. Hence, the stakeholders should carry out rigorous law enforcement to ensure compliance with health and safety measures.
Background For many industrial workers, occupational injuries are a common health and safety concern. However, sufficient information on the economic costs and predictors of occupation-related injuries from the perspective of employers is lacking in developing countries, including Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to close this gap by quantifying the economic costs and predictors of occupation-related injuries in Ethiopian manufacturing industries from the employer’s perspective. Methods A cross-sectional study was employed to estimate the employer-side economic cost of occupation-related injuries from December 2021 to March 2022. This study used a top-down approach to compute direct costs, while the friction method was used for indirect cost estimation. Injury data were obtained from the Bureau of Labour and Social Affairs and the industries, while cost data were from workers’ compensation records. The insurance company’s injury compensation record was triangulated with industries’ data. The study collected primary data via an interview-administered, semi-structured questionnaire from 1136 randomly selected injured cases. Statistical analysis was carried out with STATA version 14 software. The study employed a generalized linear model to identify predictors of total cost by considering the non-normal distribution of the total cost. Exponentiate coefficients with a 95% confidence interval were used to express the direction and strength of the association. Results The survey participation rate was 100%. From the perspective of the employers, the total cost of occupation–related injury was 22,587,635.32 Ethiopian birr (537,800.84 $).Indirect and direct costs accounted for 65.86 and 34.14% of the overall expenses, respectively. Long-term absence from work (exp (b) = 0.85), having a sleeping disorder (exp (b) = 0.90), co-morbidity (exp (b) = 0.85), and severity (type) of injury (exp (b) = 1.11) were predictors significantly associated with the total cost variability in the fully adjusted model. Conclusions Employers’ toll of occupation-related injuries has severe economic implications. The influential factors that elevated the total cost variation were: long-term absence from work, unsafe acts of the workers, having a sleeping disorder, co-morbidity, and severity (type) of injury. Therefore, the identified modifiable factors are the areas of intervention to reduce the cost of occupation-related injuries.
Working in the industry is commonly associated with a combination of personal and environmental health and safety risks. However, the finding from African countries on the factors contributing to occupational injury is inconsistent and not inclusive. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis were estimated the pooled effect of factors leading to occupational injury among workers in the industries in Africa.Published articles found in Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched. Observational studies revealing the factors leading to occupational injury among workers in the industry in Africa were incorporated. The pooled effect size of the studies was computed using STATA version 14 statistical software. The heterogeneity of the study was assessed using Cochrane Q test statistics, the I-squared values test, and the Galbraith plot. Considering within and between studies variability, the random-effect model was used to determine the pooled effect size. Funnel plot and egger's tests were conducted to evaluate publication bias.Out of 603 accessed studies, 20 studies that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included to estimate the pooled effect of factors contributing to occupational injury. Accordingly, being temporary employment workers (pooled odds ratio= 2.13 (1.06, 3.21)), not receiving ongoing health and safety training (pooled odds ratio= 1.98 (1.21, 2.76), and the proper and consistent use of personal protective equipment (pooled odds ratio= 0.60 (0.32, 0.88) were factors significantly associated with the odds of experiencing an occupational injury. Being temporary employment workers and not receiving ongoing health and safety training elevates the odds of sustaining occupational injuries. But, the proper and consistent use of personal protective equipment reduces the odds of experiencing an occupational injury. Hence, the government, industrial managers and industrial hygienists, and other stakeholders should implement rigorous law enforcement to ensure compliance, proper implementation of health and safety measures practices, and safety audits.
BackgroundEthiopia’s sugar factories are growing by creating job opportunities for thousands of workers with varying educational, professional and socioeconomic backgrounds. These sugar factories are a source of several hazards that severely harm the workers’ health. In this context, there is inconclusive evidence on the level of bagasse dust exposure and chronic respiratory health symptoms. This study aimed to assess the degree of bagasse dust exposure and chronic respiratory health symptoms.MethodsIn this longitudinal study, five workstations were selected for dust sampling. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 1043 participants. We measured the dust intensity using a calibrated handheld real-time dust monitor once a month for 5 months, totalling 50 dust samples. Chronic respiratory symptoms were assessed using the American Thoracic Society’s respiratory symptoms questionnaire.ResultsA 1 hour time-weighted average of bagasse dust intensity in the boiler, power turbine and evaporation plant was 8.93 mg/m3, 8.88 mg/m3and 8.68 mg/m3, respectively. This corresponded to an exposure level to bagasse dust of 85.52% (95% CI 83.2% to 87.6%). The level of chronic respiratory health symptoms was 60.6% (95% CI 59.2% to 61.9%). The most common respiratory symptoms were wheezing (96.8%), coughing (89.7%) and breathlessness (80.9%). The identified risk factors were lack of dust control technology (β= 0.64, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.75), not practising wet spray (β = 0.27, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.41) and not wearing proper respiratory protection devices (β = 0.12, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.56).ConclusionsBagasse dust exposure and respiratory health abnormalities were worrying concerns. The absence of dust control technologies and no practice of wet spraying elevated the level of exposure. Not wearing proper respiratory protection gear increased the odds of having respiratory abnormalities. Hence, the use of mechanical solutions to stop dust emissions at their sources and the wearing of proper respiratory protection gear are highly advised.
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