The Occurrence of Workplace Hazards among Selected Workers in the Informal Sector Kampala Uganda

Abstract

Introduction: In Uganda work-related disease is a major problem. It is estimated that 2% of workers die every year from occupational hazards. In humans, disease transmission has been established through personal contact with infected animals, transmission from an infected person to a healthy person and this is often peculiar to slaughterhouse workers handling food while on the job, a risky condition that should be taken into consideration because they serve as contributors to zoonotic infections and other infections by microorganisms. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the workplace hazards that occur in the informal sector; Kampala Uganda. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was utilized; the sample size considered for this study was 384. A simple random sampling technique was used to sample the respondents; this research study purposively focused on certain categories of workers in Kampala which were welders, restaurant workers, Boda boda riders, workers in the abattoirs and others which included vulcanizing and hawkers. Data were analyzed using SPSS and descriptive analysis was done. Results: Out of 300 responses retrieved, 279 (93%) experienced workplace hazards and 21 (7%) did not. Of the 279 (93%) workplace hazards, chemical hazards recorded the majority (35%) among the respondents; ergonomic hazards were observed to have occurred the second majority (33%); while physical hazards recorded the least occurrence (32%). Conclusion: The study concluded that 9 out of every 10 workers in the selected informal sectors in Kampala for this research study experienced workplace hazard, hence the occurrence of workplace hazards was found to be very high among workers in the informal sectors in Kampala. Recommendation: Mandatory training and health promotion of workers should be carried out in the informal sectors on proper: chemicals use, machine operation, equipment handling, safety regulations and work hours per worker per day for maximum efficiency, accurate and regular use of (PPE) and this training should be done by Government and Non-Government agencies/bodies.