Occupational Risk Assessment of Automobile Vulcanizing Workshops in Six (6) District Capitals of Ashanti Region.

Abstract

This study assessed occupational risks among workers in 148 automobile vulcanizing workshops across six district capitals in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, using purposive, snowball, and stratified random sampling techniques. Data on socio-demographics, knowledge, attitudes, practices, occupational hazards, and work-related injuries were collected through structured questionnaires. Hand-washing samples were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry to quantify lead concentrations. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, were analyzed using SPSS version 22, and lead concentrations were compared to WHO permissible limits. The results showed that 46.6% of participants were from Mamponteng, 35.1%were aged 4049, and 50% had no formal education. Most workers (86.5%) were unaware of occupational hazards, and 85.8% lacked formal safety training. PPE usage was low, with only 4.7% using safety boots, and none using gloves or masks. Workers faced high exposure to noise (95.9%), ergonomic risks (98%), machinery hazards (97.3%), and chemicals (96.6%), with 79% consistently exposed. Ergonomic hazards were prevalent, with 95.9% of workers reporting neck pain, and 90.5% indicating that it restricted their normal activities. Other common complaints included shoulder pain (96.6%), wrist/hand pain (94.6%), upper back pain (97.9%), lower back pain (98%), knee pain (98.6%), and ankle/foot pain (95.9%), all of which affected over 85% of workers’ daily activities. Health issues were widespread, with 93.2% of workers reporting work-related problems such as body pain, vision and hearing issues, stress, and headaches. Alarmingly, 89.9% of participants self-medicated to manage these conditions. Lead concentrations in handwash samples ranged from 0.0124 to 0.0797 mg/L, exceeding the WHO permissible limit of 0.01 mg/L. Effiduase recorded the highest mean lead concentration in the morning (0.0597 mg/L), Ejura peaked in the afternoon (0.0789 mg/L), and Mamponteng showed elevated levels in the evening (0.0411 mg/L), indicating significant contamination across all locations. This study highlights the severe occupational hazards faced by vulcanizing workshop workers in the Ashanti Region. The high prevalence of ergonomic risks, chemical exposure, and elevated lead levels underscores the urgent need for government intervention. Occupational health and safety programs targeting the informal sector should focus on increasing awareness, providing safety training, and promoting personal protective equipment (PPE) usage to protect workers in vulcanizing workshops.