TY - JOUR
T1 - Occupational and environmental health hazards associated with food processing and the use of personal protective equipment
T2 - A case study of Gari processing in southern Ghana
AU - Fosu-Mensah, Benedicta Y.
AU - Adabie, Derek Fiifi
AU - Johnson, Paa Nii T.
AU - Mensah, Michael
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Author (s).
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - The processing of cassava into different staple foods, including gari, comes with occupational and environmental hazards. This research aimed at assessing the awareness of occupational health hazards associated with the processing of cassava (Manihot esculenta) into Gari, environmental impact and factors that influence the wearing of personal protective equipment. Ninety (90) Gari producers were randomly selected from Awutu Senya, Central Tongu and Ayensuano Districts of Ghana and interviewed using structured and semi-structured questionnaire. Results revealed that Gari producing industry was dominated by women (78.9%). The majority of cassava processors in the study area were aware of health hazards associated with the production of gari. However, most did not take measures to reduce or mitigate exposure to health risk. The Gari industry was less attractive to people above 60 years (8.9%). Training on occupational safety and health risk was low among processors. The usage of per-sonal protective equipment (PPE) by processors was low. Only 3.3%, 16 and 17.8% used footwear, working gear and coat, respectively, during processing. Factors that influenced processors’ decision to use PPE included years of experience in pro-cessing, knowledge of health risk associated with the processing of cassava into Gari, awareness of protective equipment and a visit to health facility relating to condition sustained at work. Producers were aware of the environmental effects of Cassava-mill effluent but did not treat effluents before discharge into the environment. Some environmental effects of mill cassava effluent identified by the gari producers were; reduction in soil productivity, destruction of vegetation cover, the killing of trees and bad odour. The low level of education and training accounted for the low usage of PPEs.
AB - The processing of cassava into different staple foods, including gari, comes with occupational and environmental hazards. This research aimed at assessing the awareness of occupational health hazards associated with the processing of cassava (Manihot esculenta) into Gari, environmental impact and factors that influence the wearing of personal protective equipment. Ninety (90) Gari producers were randomly selected from Awutu Senya, Central Tongu and Ayensuano Districts of Ghana and interviewed using structured and semi-structured questionnaire. Results revealed that Gari producing industry was dominated by women (78.9%). The majority of cassava processors in the study area were aware of health hazards associated with the production of gari. However, most did not take measures to reduce or mitigate exposure to health risk. The Gari industry was less attractive to people above 60 years (8.9%). Training on occupational safety and health risk was low among processors. The usage of per-sonal protective equipment (PPE) by processors was low. Only 3.3%, 16 and 17.8% used footwear, working gear and coat, respectively, during processing. Factors that influenced processors’ decision to use PPE included years of experience in pro-cessing, knowledge of health risk associated with the processing of cassava into Gari, awareness of protective equipment and a visit to health facility relating to condition sustained at work. Producers were aware of the environmental effects of Cassava-mill effluent but did not treat effluents before discharge into the environment. Some environmental effects of mill cassava effluent identified by the gari producers were; reduction in soil productivity, destruction of vegetation cover, the killing of trees and bad odour. The low level of education and training accounted for the low usage of PPEs.
KW - Cassava effluent
KW - Environment
KW - Gari processing
KW - Health risk
KW - Protective equipment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85107554176&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.31018/jans.v13i1.2520
DO - 10.31018/jans.v13i1.2520
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85107554176
SN - 0974-9411
VL - 13
SP - 230
EP - 237
JO - Journal of Applied and Natural Science
JF - Journal of Applied and Natural Science
IS - 1
ER -