Ergonomic hazards faced by Kalerwe abattoir workers

Abstract

Ergonomic hazards are very common among abattoir workers though the workers don't recognize them as a risk to their lives and health. Every day the abattoir workers lives are put at risk as they use the different equipment and as they are in the abattoir facilities. The study set up to determine the facility and equipment ergonomic hazards affecting the Kalerwe abattoir workers. Data was collected from 238 abattoir workers at Kalerwe using a survey questionnaire. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Data was evaluated using chisquare test at 0.05 level of significance. The study showed a significant relationship between the work at the abattoir being physical and the possibility of getting an injury (ꭓ2=60.8, p<0.05), a significant relationship between kind of equipment used at the abattoir and the possibility of getting an injury at the abattoir (ꭓ2=20.2, p<0.05). The study showed that equipment ergonomic hazards are mostly experienced by workers involved in slaughtering of the animals, dressing and cleaning of the abattoir facility whereby different sharp tools are used such as pangas, axes, and knives that render workers vulnerable to accidents such as cuts, and fractures. The study recommended that abattoir workers require special training on how to use some tools used in the meat business since most of these tools are the major causes of facility and equipment ergonomic hazards affecting the Kalerwe abattoir workers.