Determinants of occupational health hazards among roadside automobile mechanics in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria.

Background: Roadside automobile mechanics are in the course of their work exposed to several hazards that put them at risk of severe debilitating health challenges. This group of workers, however, is reported not to know much about such hazards and to have little or no training on workplace safety. Aim: The study aimed to identify the determinants of occupational health hazards among roadside automobile mechanics in Sokoto Metropolis. Methodology: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study, and using a two-stage sampling technique, a total of 205 roadside mechanics were recruited for the study. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used, and the data were imputed into and analyzed using IBM SPSS. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 31.10 ± 10.19 years, and over one-third of them (38.1%) were general vehicle repairers. Majority of the respondents had good knowledge of and attitude toward workplace hazards. However, a good proportion (91.0%) of the mechanics felt that their occupation was a risky one and 80.1% ate and 86.1% drank while working. Type of training and job description were the predictors of knowledge of workplace hazards. Job description was the only predictor of attitude. Burns, bruises, headache/dizziness, and cuts were the most reported work-related illnesses and injuries. Conclusion: Although most of the auto-mechanics were aware and had good knowledge of workplace hazards, they did not adhere to safety practices in the workplace, mostly due to nonavailability of protective apparels. There is, therefore, need for continuous health education under the platform of the auto-mechanics association so that they can voluntarily adopt safety practices in their workplace.

RésuméContexte: Au cours de leur travail, les mécaniciens d'automobiles au bord de la route sont exposés à plusieurs risques qui les exposent à de graves problèmes de santé débilitants. Cependant, ce groupe de travailleurs ne connaît pas grand-chose à ces dangers et n'a pas ou peu de formation sur la sécurité au travail. Objectif: L'étude visait à identifier les déterminants des risques professionnels en matière de santé chez les mécaniciens automobiles de Sokoto Metropolis. Matériel et Méthodes: Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale descriptive et, en utilisant une technique d'échantillonnage en deux étapes, un total de 205 mécaniciens de bord de route ont été recrutés pour l'étude. Un questionnaire administré par un intervieweur semi-structuré a été utilisé et les données ont été imputées et analysées à l'aide d'IBM SPSS. Résultats: L 'âge moyen des répondants était de 31.10 ± 10.19 et plus d' un tiers d 'entre eux (38.1%) étaient des réparateurs de véhicules généraux. La majorité des répondants avaient de bonnes connaissances et une bonne attitude à l'égard des dangers au travail. Cependant, une bonne partie des mécaniciens estimaient que leur profession était risquée 183 (91,0%) et majoritaire, en mangeait 161 (80,1%) et en buvait 173 (86,1%) pendant qu'ils travaillaient. Le type de formation et la description de poste étaient des prédicteurs de la connaissance des dangers au travail. La description de travail était le seul prédicteur de l'attitude. Les brûlures, les ecchymoses, les maux de tête/vertiges et les coupures étaient les maladies et les blessures liées au travail les plus souvent rapportées. Conclusion: Bien que la plupart des mécaniciens et des mécaniciennes d'automobiles aient été au courant et aient une bonne connaissance des risques au travail, ils n'ont pas respecté les pratiques de sécurité sur le lieu de travail. Il existe donc un besoin d'éducation continue en matière de santé dans le cadre de la plate-forme de l'association de mécanique automobile afin qu'ils puissent adopter volontairement des pratiques de sécurité sur leur lieu de travail.

Determinants of occupational health hazards among roadside automobile mechanics in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria

Roadside automobile mechanics are in the course of their work exposed to several hazards that put them at risk of severe debilitating health challenges. This group of workers, however, is reported not to know much about such hazards and to have little or no training on workplace safety. Aim: The study aimed to identify the determinants of occupational health hazards among roadside automobile mechanics in Sokoto Metropolis. Methodology: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study, and using a two-stage sampling technique, a total of 205 roadside mechanics were recruited for the study. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used, and the data were imputed into and analyzed using IBM SPSS. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 31.10 ± 10.19 years, and over one-third of them (38.1%) were general vehicle repairers. Majority of the respondents had good knowledge of and attitude toward workplace hazards. However, a good proportion (91.0%) of the mechanics felt that their occupation was a risky one and 80.1% ate and 86.1% drank while working. Type of training and job description were the predictors of knowledge of workplace hazards. Job description was the only predictor of attitude. Burns, bruises, headache/dizziness, and cuts were the most reported work-related illnesses and injuries. Conclusion: Although most of the auto-mechanics were aware and had good knowledge of workplace hazards, they did not adhere to safety practices in the workplace, mostly due to nonavailability of protective apparels. There is, therefore, need for continuous health education under the platform of the auto-mechanics association so that they can voluntarily adopt safety practices in their workplace