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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Working conditions and exposure to dust and bioaerosols in sisal processing factories in tanzania
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Volume 6, No. 3, Year 2009
Notification
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Description
Information was collected on working conditions and personal exposures to dust, bacteria, and fungi in sisal fiber processing factories in Tanzania to identify health hazards and possible needs for preventive measures. Walkthrough surveys were performed in the brushing and decorticating departments of six sisal factories. The number of departments showing adequate scores for ergonomics and work organization, physical working environment, and occupational health items were determined. Personal thoracic dust samples were collected during sisal processing and analyzed for concentration of dust (n = 24) and for fungi and bacteria (n = 32). In both departments, most items considered to be a prerequisite for a good working environment were either missing or inadequate. Ergonomic and physical hazards were observed. Repetitive strenuous tasks, awkward work postures, and high noise levels were found. Visible dust and inadequate ventilation were seen in the brushing departments, and wet floors were observed in the decortication departments. Personal protective equipment was hardly used. The arithmetic mean exposure of sisal processors was 1.2 mg thoracic dust/m3, 43 × 106 bacteria/m3, and 2.35 × 106 fungal spores/m3. The highest exposure levels were measured in the decortication departments when machines were cleaned of waste. Significant differences were found for mean thoracic dust exposure and bacteria counts between the brushing and decortication departments and the security guards. Within individual departments, there were no significant differences in exposures between the different work tasks. A linear mixed effect model of thoracic dust including department as fixed effect explained 65% of the between-worker variability for thoracic dust exposure. The study shows that workers in sisal processing in Tanzania are exposed to bioaerosols, and suitable control measures should be implemented. More exposure studies are needed in this type of industry. ©2009 JOEH, LLC.
Authors & Co-Authors
Kayumba, Akwilina Victor
Norway, Bergen
Universitetet I Bergen
Bråtveit, Magne
Norway, Bergen
Universitetet I Bergen
Mashalla, Yohana James S.
United States
Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences
Baste, Valborg
Unknown Affiliation
Eduard, Wijnand
Norway, Oslo
Statens Arbeidsmiljøinstitutt
Moen, Bente Elisabeth
Norway, Bergen
Universitetet I Bergen
Statistics
Citations: 9
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1080/15459620802683044
ISSN:
15459624
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Tanzania