Assessing the awareness and willingness to use health and safety practices among woodworkers in Ghana – a case study of West Gonja district of Ghana

Abstract

The wood industry contributes about 11% of the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in most developing countries. However, woodworkers suffer from predicable but preventable health problems as a result of their work. This study therefore assessed the willingness and awareness to use health and safety practices among small scale woodworkers. The study adopteddescriptivesurvey design involving the administration of questionnaire to 50 small scale woodworkers. Data collected was analysed using SPSS and presented with descriptive statistics. The findings of the study indicated that the woodworkers were ignorant of the basic working environment safety practices. The respondents were unaware of obligatory use of personal protective equipment. Management of the various woodworkshops failed to provide vital safety and health equipment. There were lack of adequate supervision at various woodworkshops hence there were no strict adherence to health and safety rules at the workshop. However, the respondents were willing to adopt health and safety practices. The study recommended measures that may be adopted to create awareness and encouragewoodworkers to willingly use health and safety equipment to ensure good health in the West Gonja district.