INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Saw milling industry is a factory where wood is sawed its planks loads

by machines. It has existed in simple forms for hundreds of years

although significant advances in saw milling technology have been made

in the century with the introduction of electric powered machines mills

improvements in saw designs and automation in sorting of logs and

other operators (Peterson 1973; Demers and Toschke 1978). However

some of these technologies are not available in developing countries

such as Nigeria hence these processes are still been done manually

saw mills are hazardous work environments because the work process

involves the movement and cutting of large and heavy pieces of wood at

relatively high speeds. Wood preservation could result in chemical

injury on accidental to the eye (Demers and Tesikke 1998). At every

stage of wood processing the eye is at potential risk of injury. Ocular

hazards workers around the world despite vast differences in their

physical social economic and political environments face virtually the

same kinds of work place hazards. These hazards are traditionally

categorized into broad types: Chemical biological physical and

psychological. What emerges from our incomplete knowledge of their

risks however is that more than 80 percent of this worlds’ workforce

that reside in the developing world disproportionally share in the global

burden of occupational diseases such as silicosis and lead poisoning

that have been substantially in industrialized countries remain endemic

elsewhere in the world. Whether this high and preventable burden of all

health faced by workers in the developing world is the result of

ignorance evidence indicates that work related health conditions could

be substantially reduced often at modest cost. Previous studies have

shown that industrial accidents are closely related to the prevailing work

environment and tasks carried out (Cooper 2000; Clarke 2006; Das et

al 2008). Work environment related accidents could be attributed to

the prevailing environment noisy dusty chemical exposure poor

lighting nature of work repetitive shift work fatigue physical work

load handling of manual machine postural stress ergonomic work

design repetitive motions machine forced operator faced dangerous

tools and machines formal training on the job maintenance poor

culture lack of supervision poor housekeeping psychological

environment. Plant lay-out (work flow machine organization) workers

characteristics (gender age skill level knowledge experience) and

safety climate (safety system management commitment) and the risk

poised by each of these factors may vary from factory to factory (Das et

al 2008; Holcroft and Piennett 2009). The WHO comparative rise

assessment has accounted for only about 800000 940 percent) of the 2

million deaths estimated by International Labour Organization (ILO) to

occur each year because of occupational illness and injury. Deaths

attributable to a wide range of occupational exposures could not be

included because of the strict requirements for global data. Missing are

deaths attributable to asbestosis silicosis and other dust diseases

infectious diseases cardiovascular disease and other violence. Deaths

attributable to workplace exposures to pesticides heavy metals solvents

and other chemicals are not included. Outcomes such as dermatitis

psychological disorders and upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders

that cause little mentality but substantial disability are also not captured

by WHO comparative risk analysis.

Additionally the consequences of undercounting by both the ILO and

WHO nevertheless the analysis carried out in Daudu Saw Mills shows

that the most commonly prevailing conditions among the saw mills

workers are pneumonia pneumanicosis pulmonary tuberculosis. A

survey of 60 former saw mill workers and families of deceased workers

found many suffering a wide range of illness including cancer.

Commitment and the risk poised by each of those factors may vary from

factory to factory (Das et al 2008 Helcroft and Piennett 2009). The

WHO comparative risk assessment has accounted for only about

800000 (40 percent) of the 2 million deaths estimated by International

Labour Organisation (ILO) to occur each year because of occupational

illness and injury. Deaths attributable to asbestosis silicosis and other

dust diseases infectious diseases cardiovascular disease and other

violence deaths attributable to workplace exposures to pesticides heavy

metals solvents and other chemicals are not included.

Statement of the Problem

A survey released of 60 former saw mill workers and family of the

deceased workers found many suffering a wide range illness including

cancer. The report blames chemicals commonly used at saw mills until

the late 1980’s for the chronic illness saw mill workers against poisons

(SWAP) commissioned the study which was carried out with the support

of the environment ministry and bay of plenty region health authorities.

The saw mills workers established SWAP in 1996 after years of functions

and lack of action by authorities over their accumulating problems. Most

had worked at the centre halt-owned what Katane Saw Mill which shut

down in 1988 forcing many into long term unemployed. Although

SWAP members had all previously been involved in the wood industries

union the union used the fact that men were no dues paying members

to wash their hands of the case. SWAP initially took its case to the

Vietnam veterans association and discovered a “plethora” of

international research linking chemicals prevalent in the wood industry

to chronic long term health problems. Because most of the workers

were Maori SWAP then obtained the support of Maori council to sponsor

the research.

In Daudu Saw Mill most of the illnesses discovered among the saw mill

workers are: Dulmenany tuberculosis pneumoniasis and cancer which

sometimes lead some of the workers to death.

Purpose/Objectives of the Study

1. To identify the causes of occupational hazards in Daudu Saw Mill

industry.

2. To determine the extent to which this problem exist

3. To determine the strategies for reducing occupational hazards in

Daudu Saw Mill.

Significance of the Study

1. It will enable the researcher and others that will read the research

work to identify occupational hazards associated with wood

processing industry.

2. It will enable the researcher to suggest solutions to the identified

problems.

3. It will serve as a reference point to others who will like to use it in

future.

Research Questions

1. What are the causes of hazards in Daudu Saw Mill?

2. To what extent does this problem exist?

3. What are the strategies for reducing occupational hazards in

Daudu Saw Mill?

Scope of the Study

The research is to be carried out on saw mill worker sin Daudu Guma

Local Government Benue state. It is intended to identify strategies for

reducing occupational hazards among Daudu Saw Mill workers.