Health Hazards, Perceived Health Problems and Safety Compliances among Mortuary Workers in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State
Noah Oluwatope Emmanuel
Center for Occupational Health, Safety and Environment, Institute of Petroluem Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Ukwoma Ilode Police *
Center for Occupational Health, Safety and Environment, Institute of Petroluem Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study assessed Health Hazards, Perceived Health Problems and Safety Compliances among Mortuary Workers in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. Descriptive cross-sectional study recruited 150 eligible respondents from private and public mortuaries, respectively, surveyed from selected mortuaries in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. A structured questionnaires were administered to the respondents which comprises of socio-demographics, occupational history, knowledge and behaviour towards hazards encountered while at their workplace. Descriptive and analytical statistical tools were used to analyze the data. The majority of the respondents were exposed to hazards. The majority of respondents had knowledge of hazards associated with their job, while 11% used personal protective equipment (PPE) always. Hazards abound in mortuaries in Ikwerre L.G.A. even though most workers had received training on hazards and hazards prevention. There was also poor use of PPE by workers of these mortuaries in Ikwerre Local Government Area. It was recommended that health education, provision, enforcement and monitoring of the use of PPE be intensified among this group of workers as measures to mitigate hazards in the study area.
Keywords: Hazards, mortuary, Ikwerre local government area, safety compliance, health risks