Work related injuries and associated factors among small scale industry workers of Mizan-Aman Town, Bench Maji Zone, southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Work place is a potentially hazardous environment where millions of employees pass at least one-third of their life time. However, hundreds of millions of people throughout the world are employed today in conditions that breed ill health and/or are unsafe for life.

Objective: This study aims to assess the magnitude of work related injury and associated factors among small scale industrial workers in Mizan-Aman town, Bench Maji Zone, Southwest Ethiopia.

Method: A cross-sectional study design was conducted from February to May, 2016. Data was collected using a structured face to face interview and observational checklist. A total of 219 individuals were involved in this study. The raw data collected from the field was entered to EPI Info-version 6.04 and exported to SPSS-version 21 for analysis. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with work related injuries.

Result: A total of 219 employees from small scale industries were involved in the study. One hundred ninety eight (90.4%) were male. Prevalence of injury was 45.2% per year and the most common causes of injury was hit injury by manual tools (37.4%). Most of the occupational injuries sustained were on the upper and lower limbs. The multivariable analysis result reveals that cigarette smoking (AOD= 4.65: 95% CI 1.53, 14.20), alcohol consumption (AOD= 5.18: 95% CI 2.28, 11.73), working hours (AOD= 4.78: 95% CI 1.95, 11.68), working during night shift (AOD= 4.14: 95% CI 1.12, 15.25), occupational health and safety training (AOD= 0.25:95% CI 0.10, 0.63) and use of Personal Protective Equipment (AOD= 0.32: 95% CI 0.14, 0.75) were found to be significantly associated factors with occupational injury.

Conclusion: Work-related injuries were high among small scale industry workers in the studied area. Cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, working for more than 8 hours and working at night had high odds of occupational injuries. Use of PPE and occupation health and safety training were preventive factors. Therefore, workers and industry owners need to work together to halt the problems. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2017;31(3):208-215]

Keywords: Work-related injury, Small scale industries, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia