Y. Abebe et M. Fantahun, Occupational environment as perceived by workers at a textile mill in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia, ETHIOP MED, 38(4), 2000, pp. 237-245
This cross sectional study was conducted among textile mill workers in Bahi
r Dar town in 1995/96. The main objective of the study was to investigate h
ow workers perceive their work environment and explore their state of satis
faction with their work.;A pretested questionnaire was administered by trai
ned health workers to 394 production workers.;The majority of the workers (
53.6%) claimed the work environment to be,hot. For 668%, the physical condi
tions around the working departments was worst during the hot season. The w
ork place was perceived as dusty and noisy by 47.2% and 36.0% of the respon
dents respectively. The distribution of adverse environmental complaint by
work department was not the same. A higher proportion of the workers in the
spinning department complained of inadequate ail movement (64.5%) and dust
y work place (53.3%); whereas those in the weaving department complained th
e work place to be hot and noisy (60.5%, 53.5% respectively). Aprons were u
sed by 95.7%, but other personal protectors such as ear protectors, gloves
and goggles were used rarely. In general, 228 (57.9%) workers were satisfie
d but the rest were dissatisfied with their work environment. In order to i
mprove the hygienic Conditions in the work place, 71.2% suggested use of di
fferent kinds of personal protectors. In conclusion, personal protectors sh
ould always be used, environmental hygiene should be conducted and health e
ducation should be provided to workers.