Ewebiyi, I. O; Odunuga, A. O. & Fowomola, T. D
Abstract
Occupational hazard in work place or environment has gained attention among scholars and researchers with its consequential effects on health and low productivity. Thus, the study therefore assessed the occupational hazards among cassava processors in Ifo LGA of Ogun State, Nigeria. The sample comprises of cassava processors who produce either for commercial or home purposes. Questionnaire was administered to one hundred and twenty-five respondents to obtain primary data and data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Result shows that most of the respondents had mean age of 50 years, majority (72.0%) of the respondents were female, majority (91.2%) of the respondents were married, majority (78.4%) of the respondents had no formal education, majority had mean household size of 6 persons, majority had mean monthly income of N29, 080, majority had mean years of processing experience of 13 years, 40.0% of the respondents used self-labour for their processing activities, 44.8% used personal savings for their processing activities, majority (58.4%) of the respondents engaged in trading as their secondary occupation and most of the respondents earned mean monthly income of N14,000 from their secondary occupation. Most of the respondents were engaged in garri processing (2.00). Most of the respondents were faced with fatigue as a result of strenuous nature of processing (2.34). Majority (60.8%) of the respondents felt high level of occupational hazards. A significant relationship between types of occupational hazards associated with cassava processing (r=0.438, p=0.002) and level of occupational hazards on cassava processing. The study therefore conclude that the level of occupational hazards was high (60.8%) among the respondents. It is therefore recommended that most of the respondents should be trained and supported on the use of health friendly processing techniques in the study area.