ABSTRACT
Occupational health and safety (OHS) is a broad field of professional practice, which involves specialists from different disciplines including but not limited to engineers, occupational health physicians, physical and biological scientists, economists, and statisticians. The preventive systems required to ensure workers are protected from injuries and illnesses dwell heavily on engineers; however, the extent to which the engineer can go regarding planning and implementing preventive measures is dependent on specific legal requirements, leadership commitment from the company, organization, and nation. The objective of this paper is to identify the areas of opportunities for improvements in OHS management in Ghana with regard to the nation's legal requirements, commitment of the Ghana government, and Ghanaian leadership as well as appropriate structuring of Ghanaian institutions responsible for monitoring and managing OHS in Ghana. This paper identified Ghana's fragmented legal requirements concerning OHS, which are under different jurisdictions with unclear responsibilities and accountabilities. The paper also highlights the training needs of Ghanaian academic institutions regarding OHS. Among other recommendations made including structuring of Ghanaian institutions to manage OHS in line with the ILO-OSH 2001, this paper aligns the recommendations with the articles and elements of International Labour Organization convention number 155 and OHSAS 18001 elements.
Subject(s)
Humans , Ghana , Leadership , Occupational Health Physicians , Occupational Health , Professional Practice , SpecializationABSTRACT
This study was conducted to evaluate Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in different groups of working children. Study population comprises of 300 child workers, 100 in each group (agricultural workers, constructional workers, control group or domestic workers with equal sex, age and socioeconomic distribution). PEFR value was lowest among construction workers. PEFR values of all subjects had a linear relationship with age, weight, and height.
ABSTRACT
Analisar a ocorrência, as características e as perdas funcionais decorrentes dos acidentes e doenças relacionados ao trabalho em indivíduos do setor madeireiro encaminhados à reabilitação profissional. Método: realizou-se um estudo seccional, a partir de dados secundários, coletados na Unidade Técnica de Reabilitação Profissional (UTRP) do INSS em Belém - Pará, com 53 trabalhadores. Resultados: o perfil sócio-demográfico dos beneficiários foi constituído predominantemente por: homens (98,1%); adulto-jovens em idade produtiva entre 20 a 49 anos (96,2%); casados (64,2%); de 1 a 3 filhos (69,8%); com até o ensino fundamental (81,2%) e com renda familiar entre 230 a 485 reais. Os agravos que mais geraram benefício e posterior indicação para a reabilitação profissional são os acidentes envolvendo o punho e mão, as doenças do sistema nervoso e as doenças do sistema osteomuscular. Considerações finais: confirmou-se que o setor madeireiro é uma atividade de condições, que ocasiona doenças e acidentes graves, muitas das vezes, incapacitando os trabalhadores para a atividade produtiva; situação agravada, pelo fato da maioria ter baixo nível de escolaridade e baixa remuneração.
To analyze the occurrence, characteristics and the functional losses resulting from accidents and work-related diseases in individuals of the logging industry referred to vocational rehabilitation. Method: it was a cross-sectional study from secondary data, collected at the Technical Unit of Vocational Rehabilitation (UTRP)/INSS in Belém - Pará, with 53 employees. Results: the socio-demographic profile of beneficiaries was composed mainly of: men (98.1%), adult-productive young people aged 20 to 49 years (96.2%), married (64.2%) with one or three children (69.8%), with some schooling (81.2%) and family income between 230 to 485 reais. The grievances that led to more effective and further indication for the vocational rehabilitation are accidents involving the wrist and hand, diseases of the nervous system and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Conclusion: it was confirmed that the timber industry is an activity conditions, which causes serious illness and accidents, many times, incapacitating workers into productive activity, a situation aggravated by the fact that most have low education and low pay.