Assessment of Occupational Health and Safety Risks among Environmental Health Officers in Ghana Amidst the Covid-19 Global Pandemic.

Abstract

Occupational health and safety risk assessment entails the evaluation of workplace hazards and the degree of injury or effect such hazards pose to the health of the workers. This study assesses occupational health and safety risks among Environmental Health Officers in Ghana amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic. By way of methology used 215 EHOs sampled for data collection and analysis. This research used a mixed-method approach. Qualitative and quantitative data collection approach were employed to gather information on respondents through the administration of questionnaires, augmented with key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Findings showed that Environmental Health Officers were involved in the fight against COVID-19 in the following ways; contact tracing 13%, health education 40%, fumigation and disinfection 14%, and as well as burial 33%. However, personal protective equipment was not available to a about 34% of the officers for their work at the time of data collection. This could possibly lead to exposure of the officers to occupational risks such as contraction of the COVID-19 virus (1.4%), injuries (80%), and effects of chemicals meant for fumigation 33%, on their bodies. This could also result in a lot of emotional and psychological hazards on these officers. Furthermore, 42% of the officers were not trained on COVID-19 management at the time of involvement in this study while there were virtually no support systems and motivational incentives available to the officers. It is recommended that the government and Environmental Health Sanitation Unit should provide the officers with adequate and appropriate protective equipment, training and support systems. This could be supported by health and safety polices to protect the officers in their work.