Assessing the hazards of welders at the Sunyani garages in Ghana

The artisanal industry contributes significantly to the growth and development of many emerging economies in Africa. These people work under strenuous conditions, with personal protective equipment (PPE) that appears to be the last measure of protection yet remains inadequate. This study aimed to assess the hazards facing welders operating at the Sunyani garages in the Bono Region of Ghana. A mixed-method approach was adopted for this study, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. Focus group discussions were held with master craft persons about the profession, as well as transect walks, interactions, and personal observations of their welding activities. The quantitative approach entailed the administration of structured questionnaires to 190 out of 300 welders working in the Sunyani garages. The results showed that nearly half of the respondents (49.2 %) were young men, aged 21–30 years, while 62.1 % of respondents had working experience up to 10 years, and 73.1 % had education up to senior high school. Welders who used eye PPE were in the majority (82 %), and they reported fewer eye problems (112 out of 190). Only 28 % of eye PPE users reported eye sickness, compared with 70.6 % of non-eye PPE users who reported eye problems. Differences between their health outcomes were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Among participants who used eye PPE, at least 76 % of them had high-school education and only about 7 % of them were illiterate, compared to 12.9 % of non-PPE users. About 60 % of the respondents had never had any major accident at the workplace. Accident occurrences were relatively fewer with new entrants to the profession. New entry into the profession could thus account for the fewer accident experiences of untrained workers. Few welders had undergone professional training (18 %) or safety training (22 %). As many of the welders were young and also fairly new on the job, it is recommended that professional and safety training courses be organized for them from time to time to equip them with new trends in the profession and for prospects in the growing industry.