From sawdust to safety: Examining knowledge and practices of respiratory protective measures among sawmill workers in South-Eastern Nigeria

The availability of timber products and the increase in demand for construction and export have made it a thriving business in Nigeria. . Chronic respiratory symptoms are common among sawmill workers because of their exposure to occupational-related sawdust hazards. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, self-reported respiratory symptoms, and protective measure in place by the sawmill workers. This was a cross-sectional study and it was carried out at Timber market, Nkwo-Nnewi, Anambra state, Nigeria with a sample size of 157. Structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed with the statistical package for social sciences. The result of the study showed that nearly all the respondents were male (97.5%) and the majority were between 30-49 years of age. 45.9% of the respondents had worked at the sawmill for 10 years and above. The majority of the respondents were aware that the sawmill dust can affect their respiratory health 119(75.8%).Some of the respiratory problem reported include: Cough 97(61.8%), Cold 81(51.6%), Chest tightness 18(11.5%), Wheeze 17(10.5%), Shortness of breath 12(7.6%). The study indicated that majority of the respondents do not make use of personal protective device 100(63.7%) whilst only 57(36.3%) make use of personal protective equipment. Some of the common reasons cited for not using PPE were that it was not comfortable 44(43%) and that the PPE was not available 34(34%). A great percentage of the sawmill workers had poor knowledge of respiratory protective measures (37.0%). The sawmill workers had a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms probably because poor safety practices were evident. It is therefore essential to improve the level of knowledge among sawmill workers about occupational hazards and safety practices in order to mitigate its negative consequences. These can be achieved via periodic health awareness campaigns, and health policies by the government with the aim to enforce the sawmill workers to observe proper protective measures while working.