Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot. 2021 Mar;28(1):29-38. doi: 10.1080/17457300.2020.1835989. Epub 2020 Oct 16.
Although assessing the cost of workplace injuries and illnesses as part of occupational health and safety management is important in ensuring workplace safety, the issue is generally neglected among informal auto-artisans in Ghana. This paper examines the costs of occupational injuries and illnesses in terms of productivity, financial and social aspects of selected auto-artisans who service or fabricate auto parts in Suame 'Magazine' in Kumasi, Ghana. Employing a descriptive cross-sectional design, data were collected from 957 auto-artisans selected through a multistage cluster sampling method. The study found that the most frequent occupational illnesses and injuries experienced by the auto-artisans are those related to sharp objects (83.9%), inhalation of dust particles (45.8%), objects falling from height (35.6%) and burns (21.8%). These injuries and illnesses have led to loss of productivity and income which affects family members with no variations between the various categories of auto-artisans ( = 0.976). It is concluded that occupational injuries and illnesses among informal auto-artisans presents enormous financial and emotional costs to survivors and their families. It is recommended that government should lead a policy dialogue on safety in the country's informal sector, while supporting artisans to establish insurance schemes to support them in times of injuries and illnesses.
尽管评估工作场所伤害和疾病的成本是职业健康和安全管理的重要组成部分，以确保工作场所安全，但在加纳的非正规汽车工匠中，这一问题通常被忽视。本文从生产力、财务和社会方面考察了在加纳库马西苏阿梅“杂志”区从事或制造汽车零部件的部分汽车工匠的职业伤害和疾病成本。本研究采用描述性横断面设计，通过多阶段聚类抽样方法从 957 名汽车工匠中收集数据。研究发现，汽车工匠最常经历的职业疾病和伤害与锐器（83.9%）、吸入粉尘颗粒（45.8%）、高处坠落物体（35.6%）和烧伤（21.8%）有关。这些伤害和疾病导致生产力和收入损失，影响到家庭成员，而不同类别的汽车工匠之间没有差异（ = 0.976）。研究结论认为，非正规汽车工匠的职业伤害和疾病给幸存者及其家庭带来了巨大的经济和情感成本。建议政府应在国家非正规部门的安全问题上进行政策对话，同时支持工匠建立保险计划，在他们受伤和患病时为他们提供支持。
