Chemical Hazards and Allergic Diseases of Furniture Makers and Attitude towards the Use of Protective Equipments in Ethiope East L.G.A of Delta State

Abstract

The kind of occupation one is involved in is supposed bring happiness, and satisfaction, but it can result in a threat to a worker's health and well-being. The hazard can be in form of chemical such as fire accidents or allergic diseases like conjunctivitis. However, if a worker who is involved in manufacturing processes like the furniture maker has the right attitude and uses personal protective equipment, the hazards will be reduced to the barest minimum. Objectives: To identify the chemical hazards as well as the allergic diseases to which furniture makers are exposed to. Also, the study seeks to find out the attitude of the furniture makers towards the use of personal protective equipments. Materials and Methods: the study utilized the descriptive research design. The sample was 300. This was made up of furniture makers and wood sellers in Ehiope East Local Government Area of Delta State. The study utilized a structured questionnaire to get information from respondents which were the data from the field work. The information so gathered was on chemical hazards and allergic diseases associated with furniture making process as well as on attitude towards the use of personal protective equipments. Results: Findings from the study indicated that asthma (70%) and dermatitis (66.3%) are common allergic diseases. Chemical hazards on the other hand were mostly chapped skin represented by 77.7%, reduced skin temperature (71.7%) and fire accidents (74.7%). The study also revealed that there is a significant poor attitude of the workmen towards the use of personal protective equipments. Interpretation and Conclusion: the researcher having successfully analyzed the data, concluded from the findings that majority of the furniture makers and wood sellers experienced some forms of chemical hazards and allergic diseases from materials used for processing furniture such as dust from the wood and chemicals for fine finishing. Also, poor attitude towards the use personal protective equipments had contributed immensely to the risks to health. Therefore, the need to design a strategy using engineering control like those found in the study of physics can come handy. This can be relied upon, instead of relying on behavioural change technique. Above all, periodic medical examination for workmen and wood sellers should be encouraged and promoted by the government in all workplaces to mitigate the long term effects of hazards. Key words: Protective Equipment, furniture, engineering control, Physics.