Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: November | Volume: 10 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 236-240
Ocular Injuries among Welders in Nekede, Imo State, Nigeria
Chukwuoha Chigozie Mary1, Nwoke Eunice Anyalewechi2, Esenwah Emmanuel Chukwudi3, Azuamah Young Christian3, Nwaigwe Obianuju MaryJane1
1Mercy Eye Clinic, 29 Wetheral Road, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
2Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
3Department of Optometry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
Corresponding Author: Chukwuoha Chigozie Mary
ABSTRACT
Welding without use of appropriate eye protector can cause physical, mechanical, chemical and psychosocial hazards/injuries and this has been observed among a large number of the welding workforce who report to eye clinics/hospitals daily with incidence of workplace ocular injuries/hazards.
Aim: To ascertain the ocular injuries among Welders in Nekede, Imo State.
Materials and methods: The study was carried out as a descriptive and cross-sectional survey. Questionnaire was distributed among the 260 welders participating in the study and eye screening exercise also carried out. Data analysis was done with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21 computer software using descriptive analysis.
Result: Ocular hazards/injuries found among the welders due to non-use of eye protectors included foreign bodies (30.7%), conjunctivitis (20.3%); pterygium (13.4%), arc-eye injury/trauma (12.6%), cataract (10.0%), chemical injury/burns (7.4%), uveitis (4.3%) and corneal abrasion (1.3%).
Conclusion: There was a high rate of occurrence of ocular injuries among the participants, of which foreign bodies, trauma and corneal abrasion, which are related causes of avoidable blindness, additively made up to 44.3% of the ocular injuries/hazards, a very high percentage. This implied that welders in Nekede, Imo State do not maintain Occupational health and safety regulations. Hence, efforts should be made to reduce the risks of ocular problems in their work environment through enlightenment programmes, health education and improved compliance/adherence to occupational health and safety regulations with the help of Health practitioners, State ministry of health and the Government
Key words: Ocular, injuries, hazards, visual impairment, eye protector, welding.