Effect of health education intervention on the awareness and use of personal protective equipments among small scale electric arc welders in Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction:Welding is associated with workplace hazards that can affect the health of those who engaged in it as they are exposed to harmful dust.Subjects and Methods:This was a health education intervention study carried out among self-employed electric arc welder. Data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire and health education intervention was carried out between the preintervention and postintervention stages. Epi-info version 3.5.1 software package was used for data analysis and Chi-square analysis was used to determine the statistical significance of observed differences between the study and control groups before the intervention and after intervention. Level of significance was set at a P < 0.05.Results:At the preintervention phase, 285 respondents were interviewed in each of the study and control groups, while 280 study respondents and 275 control respondents were available for the postintervention phase of the study. Before the intervention, 279 (97.9%) of the respondents in the study group were aware of eye goggles as a means of protection, 20 (7%) were aware of welding helmet, 206 (72.3%) were aware of hand gloves and 4 (1.4%) were aware of face mask. All showed a significant increase in awareness postintervention (P < 0.05) while there was no significant increase in awareness in the control group.Conclusion:Health education brought about a significant increase in awareness and use of personal protective equipment among the welders. There is a need for proper education of welders on workplace hazards, the types and use of different protective devices in other to safeguard their health.

The impact of theory-based educational intervention on improving helmet use behavior among workers of cement factory, Iran

“…The study conducted by Adewoye et al in Nigeria indicated that educational intervention was effective on the use of various PPE, especially helmet in welders [23]. A systematic review of the published documents from 1980 to 2001 revealed that theoretical frameworks such as the TPB, the theory of reasoned action (TRA), and the health belief model (HBM) were effective on prevention of unwanted incidents through improved health behaviors of workers [10, 13].…”

Occupational safety measures and morbidity among welders in Vellore, Southern India

“…16,19,20 In Nigeria, an intervention to educate welders about PPE use found a significant increase in the use of in PPE. 21 Hence education among welders on the importance of use of PPE can play a pivotal role in reducing injuries.…”

Health risk assessment and oxidative stress in workers exposed to welding fumes

“…Similar to many other occupations welding technology may also pose hazards and risks (Santamaria et al, 2007;Adewoye et al, 2014;Wong et al, 2014).The potential hazards related to welding are exposure to toxic gases, metallic fumes, ultraviolet and infrared radiation (Gordon 2004). The most frequent A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 3 among all hazards is attributed to metal exposure especially in stainless steel welding process (Antonini et al, 2004).…”