Occupational and environmental health hazards associated with food processing and the use of personal protective equipment: A case study of Gari processing in southern Ghana
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
Abstract
The processing of cassava into different staple foods, including gari, comes with occupational and environmental hazards. This research aimed at assessing the awareness of occupational health hazards associated with the processing of cassava (Manihot esculenta) into Gari, environmental impact and factors that influence the wearing of personal protective equipment. Ninety (90) Gari producers were randomly selected from Awutu Senya, Central Tongu and Ayensuano Districts of Ghana and interviewed using structured and semi-structured questionnaire. Results revealed that Gari producing industry was dominated by women (78.9%). The majority of cassava processors in the study area were aware of health hazards associated with the production of gari. However, most did not take measures to reduce or mitigate exposure to health risk. The Gari industry was less attractive to people above 60 years (8.9%). Training on occupational safety and health risk was low among processors. The usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) by processors was low. Only 3.3%, 16 and 17.8% used footwear, working gear and coat, respectively, during processing. Factors that influenced processors' decision to use PPE included years of experience in processing, knowledge of health risk associated with the processing of cassava into Gari, awareness of protective equipment and a visit to health facility relating to condition sustained at work. Producers were aware of the environmental effects of Cassava-mill effluent but did not treat effluents before discharge into the environment. Some environmental effects of mill cassava effluent identified by the gari producers were; reduction in soil productivity, destruction of vegetation cover, the killing of trees and bad odour. The low level of education and training accounted for the low usage of PPEs.
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
Cassava effluent, Gari processing, Health risk, Environment, Protective equipment
Adepoju, A. A., Oladeebo. J. O. and Toromad, A. S. (2019). Analysis of Occupational Hazards and Poverty Profile among Cassava Processors in Oyo State, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research, 9(1), 1-13
Akabanda, F., Hlortsi, E. H. and Owusu-Kwarteng, J. (2017). Food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of institutional food-handlers in Ghana. BMC Public Health 17 (40), 1–9. DOI 10.1186/s12889-016-3986-9
Akpokodje, O. I., Uguru, H. and Esegbuyota, D. (2018). Remediation of Cassava Effluent Contaminated Soil Using Organic Soap Solution: Case Study of Soil Physical Properties and Plant Growth Performance. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports. 21(3): 1-11, JSRR.45048 ISSN: 2320-0227
Bello, M., Ejembi E. P., Allu, E. and Anzaku, T. A. K. (2013). Rural Women Processing Cassava in Doma Local Government Area of Central Nigeria Deserve Technical Assistance. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 3(10), 105–112.
Bishop, P. A., Balilonis, G., Davis, J. K. and Zhang, Y. (2013) Ergonomics and Comfort in Protective and Sport Clothing: A Brief Review. J Ergonomics. S2: 005. doi:10.4172/2165-7556.S2-005
CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety) (2014). OSH Answers Fact Sheets. Hot Environments - Health Effects and First Aid. Retrieved July 9, 2015, from http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/phys_agents/heat_health.html
Danso-Abbeam, G. Antwi Bosiako, J., Ehiakpor, D. S. and Mabe, F. N. (2017) Adoption of improved maize variety among farm households in the northern region of Ghana. Cogent Economics and Finance, 5(1), 1-14
Deressa,T. T., Hassan, R. M., Ringler, C., Alemu, T. and Yesuf, M. (2009). Determinants of farmers’ choice of adaptation methods to climate change in the Nile Basin of Ethiopia. Global Environmental Change, 19, 248–255
Frca, P. G. and Frca Fficm, R. V. M. (2015). Smoke inhalation injury. BJA Education, 15 (3): 143–148
Graham, J. and Traylor, J. (2020). Cyanide toxicity. StatPearls Publishing, Treasure Island (FL), 2 July 2020, PMID: 29939573. ,https://europepmc.org/article/NBK/NBK507796
James, B., Okechukwu, R., Abass, A., Fannah, S., Maziya-Dixon, B., Sanni, L., Osei-Sarfoh, A., Fomba, S. and Lukombo, S. (2012). Producing Gari from Cassava: An illustrated guide for smallholder cassava processors. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA): Ibadan,
Nigeria.
Juntarawijit, Y. and Juntarawijit, C. (2019) Cooking smoke exposure and respiratory symptons among those responsible for household cooking: A study case in Phitsanulok, Thailand. Heliyon 5; 1-7.
Lucas, R. A. I., Epstein, Y. and Kjellstrom, T. (2014). Excessive Occupational Heat Exposure: A Significant Ergonomic Challenge and Health Risk for Current and Future Workers. Extreme Physiology and Medicine, 3(14), 1–8
Mensah, M., Vlek, P. L. G., Fosu-Mensah, B. Y. (2020). Agriculture and gender roles in the semi-arid region of Ghana. West Africa Journal of Applied Ecology, 28(1), 144-157
Morgan, N. K. and Choct, M. (2016). Cassava: Nutrient composition and nutritive value in poultry diets. Animal Nutrition, 2, 253-261.
Neghab, M., Delikhoon, M., Baghani, A. N., Hassanzadeh, J. (2017). Exposure to Cooking Fumes and Acute Reversible Decrement in Lung Functional Capacity. International Journal of Occupational and environmental Medicine 8(4), 1-5
Obeng-Ofori, D. and Boateng, B. A. (2008). Global Population Growth, Crop Losses and Postharvest Technology. In E. W. Cornelius and D. Obeng-Ofori (Eds.), Postharvest Science and Technology 1–46. Accra: Smartline Publishing Limited.
Obueh, H. O. and Odesiri-Eruteyan, E. (2016). A Study on the Effects of Cassava Processing Wastes on the Soil Environment of a Local Cassava Mill. J Pollut Eff Cont 4(4). DOI: 10.4176/2375-4397.1000177.
Ogunyinka, O. and Oguntuase, A. (2020). Analysis of cassava production and processing by various groups in support of cassava value chain in the south west of Nigeria. ISABB. J. Food Agric. Sci. 9(1), 11-19, DOI: 10.5897/ISABB-JFAS2020.0113
Okoffo, E. D., Mensah, M. and Fosu?Mensah, B. Y. (2016). Pesticides exposure and the use of personal protective equipment by cocoa farmers in Ghana. Environ Syst Res 5(17), 1-15
Omotosho, O. and Amori, A. (2015). Caustic Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment of Effluent from Cassava Processing Industry: Prospects and Limitations. International Journal of Engineering and Technology Innovation, 5 (2), 121-131
Oyinkan, A. O., Poku, A., K. and John-Baptiste, A. (2016) The Fire Under the Shed: The Cornerstone Fuelling Our Plight. In: Terry, A.L. and John-Baptiste, A. [eds] Western Public Health Casebook. London, ON: Public Health Casebook Publishing.
Paltasingh, K. R. and Goyari, P. (2018). Impact of farmer education on farm productivity under varying technologies: case of paddy growers in India. Agricultural and Food
Economics 6 (7), 1-19. doi.org/10.1186/s40100-018-0101-9
Quaye, W., Yawson, I., Gayin, J., and Plahar, W. A. (2009). Economic Comparison of Cassava Processing Methods in Some Selected Districts of Ghana , Africa. Journal of Root Crops, 35(2), 211–218.
Yidana, J. A., Osei-Kwarteng, M., and Amadu, Y. (2013). The Impact of Cassava Processing on the Livelihoods of Women Processors in Central Gonja District of the Northern Region of Ghana. International Journal of Cassava and Potatoes Research, 1(2), 10–13.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) © Author (s)
