ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Year : 2016 | Volume : 23 | Issue : 1 | Page : 25-32

Knowledge of occupational hazards among sawmill workers in Kwara state, Nigeria

Busayo Emmanuel Agbana1, Alabi Oladele Joshua1, Moses A Daikwo2, Loveth Olufunto Metiboba3
1
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kogi State
University, Anyigba, Kogi, Nigeria
2
Department of Biochemistry, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Kogi, Nigeria
3
Health Services Unit, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Kogi, Nigeria

Date of Web Publication 13-Apr-2016

Correspondence Address:
Busayo Emmanuel Agbana
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kogi State
University, Anyigba, Kogi
Nigeria

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

Check

DOI: 10.4103/1117-1936.180176

Abstract

Background: This study was aimed at assessing the knowledge of sawmill workers on occupational hazards in
Kwara State.
Subjects and Methods: It was a cross-sectional analytical study using a multi-stage sampling technique to recruit
sawmill workers into the study group in Kwara State. One hundred and ninety-six workers who had been in
continuous employment in sawmill factories for a minimum of 6 months were studied. Semi-structured
questionnaire adapted from British Medical Council questionnaire on occupational hazards was used for data
collection. A 15-point scale was used to assess knowledge of respondents by awarding 1 and 0 point to correct and
wrong responses, respectively. Respondents with total score of >5, 5-7 and >7 were classified as having poor, fair
and good knowledge of occupational hazards. The data generated were entered and analysed using SPSS version
16 computer software. A P > 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant at 95% confidence level for the
study.
Results: The knowledge of sawmill workers on occupational hazards was low, 61.7% of the respondents had poor
knowledge, whereas 15.8% had good knowledge. Half of the respondents knew that exposure to hazards could be
reduced by limiting their work hours to a maximum of 8 hours per day. More than three-quarters had experienced
noise, closely followed by heat and injuries among the study group.
Conclusion: Sawmill workers experience various work-related hazards and health problems. This study revealed
the need for an increased knowledge on occupational hazards and its prevention among sawmill workers in Kwara
State.
Keywords: Health problems, knowledge, occupational hazards, sawmill workers

How to cite this article:

Agbana BE, Joshua AO, Daikwo MA, Metiboba LO. Knowledge of occupational hazards among sawmill workers
in Kwara state, Nigeria. Niger Postgrad Med J 2016;23:25-32

How to cite this URL:

Agbana BE, Joshua AO, Daikwo MA, Metiboba LO. Knowledge of occupational hazards among sawmill workers
in Kwara state, Nigeria. Niger Postgrad Med J [serial online] 2016 [cited 2017 Jun 2];23:25-32. Available
from: http://www.npmj.org/text.asp?2016/23/1/25/180176

Introduction

Occupational health could be said to have started with the Italian doctor Bernadino Ramazzini in the early part of
the 18 th century when he set into motion a drive for the recognition of the role of occupations in the dynamics of
health and disease. [1] Occupational health can be defined as the sum total of all the activities and programmes that
are engaged upon with the aim of attaining and maintaining the highest level of health and safety for all people
who are engaged in any type of work whatsoever. [1] Occupational health does this through the approaches of
disease prevention, safety assurance and general health promotion. Hazards are work materials, substances, work
processes or conditions that may result or predispose one to accidents, injuries or diseases. Occupational hazards
are degree or risk posed by activities and programmes engaged upon at workplace. [2]

Sawmilling is the process of breaking down of timbers into further different sizes of boards after passing through
various machines in the sawmill plant. [2] Sawmill workers are grouped into machine operators, saw technicians,
dust packers, overseers, wood loaders, machine off-loaders and administrative staff with different duration of
exposure to wood dust at the workplace. [3] Several studies have shown direct relationship between various
occupational-related diseases and sawmill work. Therefore, assessing knowledge of hazards among sawmill
workers would be cardinal in providing promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative occupational health
services to sawmill workers.

Adverse health effects of wood dust arose from poor practices of occupational safety measures among sawmill
workers. It is estimated that at least two million people are routinely exposed occupationally to wood dust
worldwide. [4] Workers in sawmill and other wood industries exposed to a variety of natural chemicals, fungi and
bacteria in raw barks and woods, and all these have been associated with diverse occupational illnesses and
hazards, including cancers. [5] Research in occupational exposures in sawmills has suggested that the workers in
sawmills are at risk of developing allergic disorders, lung diseases, some nasal tumours, deafness and cataracts.
This has been linked to hazards such as dust (28.1%) and noise (26.1%) which according to respondents
interviewed were the major hazards, they were exposed to. [6]

World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that poor occupational health and reduced working capacity of
workers may cause economic loss up to 10-20% of the gross national product (GNP) of a country. [7] Occupational
injuries alone account for more than 10 million disability-adjusted life years or healthy years of life lost whether
to disability or premature death and 8% of unintentional injuries worldwide. [7] Poor occupational health and
reduced working capacity of workers may cause economic loss up to 10-20% of the GNP of a country (WHO,
1994). Globally, occupational deaths, diseases and illnesses account for an estimated loss of 4% of the GDP. [7] A
survey conducted in 2007/2008 by Health and Safety Executive on work-related illness estimated 34 million lost
work days, 28 million due to work-related illness and 6 million due to workplace injury. [8]

Lack of comprehensive occupational health services policy, poor infrastructure and funding, insufficient number
of qualified occupational health and safety practitioners and general lack of adequate information are among the
main drawbacks to the provision of effective enforcement and inspection services in most African countries. [7],[8]
A healthy workforce is vital to sustainable social and economic development of a nation by promoting high
productivity and economic gain which are positive effects of work on health. [1] These have not been possible due
to poor compliance to health and safety standards in developing countries, especially in small and medium size
workplaces. [9]

The study is expected to contribute or help to improve the knowledge of the sawmill workers on various hazards
associated with the wood dust and ways to reduce their exposure to these hazards by the use of occupational
safety equipment. The data generated from this study will help policy makers to develop guidelines to regulate
operations of sawmill industries in Nigeria, as information on health status of the sawmill workers would be
revealed.

This study assessed the knowledge of occupational hazards and identified work hazards sawmill workers are
exposed to.

Subjects and Methods

Kwara State was created on 27 th May 1967 as one of the 12 states that replaced former four regional structures,
the Northern, Western, Mid-Western and Eastern regions of Nigeria. Benue State was later carved out of both
Benue-Plateau and Kwara States, taken away the Igala speaking part of old Kwara State. Kogi State was again
later carved away from the Eastern half of the state (still), and now consists of only the western part of the original
and second Kwara States. It is located in the geographical and cultural confluence of the North and South of
Nigeria (North Central Zone). [10]

The major religions are Islam and Christianity, Yoruba is the main language spoken by the people, whereas
minority ethnic groups are Hausa, Igbo, Fulani and Nupe. The people of the state are mainly civil servants,
farmers, traders, artisans and organised private sectors.

There are 1092 sawmill workers registered with the association of sawmill workers in Kwara State. There are 65
sawmill industries in the three senatorial districts of which they are all privately owned. [11] There is only one
tertiary health centre in the state, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), the Epidemiology and
Community Health Department offers promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative occupational health
services to factory workers including sawmill workers when the services are needed. The state has 17 general
hospitals, one in each local government area (LGA) with the exception of Ilorin West that has two general
hospitals. There are primary health care centres and private hospitals.

This was a cross-sectional analytical study. The study population consisted registered workers in sawmill
industries in Kwara State. There were 65 sawmill industries in the three senatorial districts of Kwara State.
Sawmill workers were grouped into machine operators, saw technicians, dust packers, overseers, wood loaders,
machine off-loaders and administrative staff. A typical sawmill workshop in the state consists of open space that
encloses plain machine and circular machine for cutting woods and slab shops, where cut wood is displayed for
commercial purposes.

Sample size determination

The minimum sample size for the study for each group was calculated using the formula for the comparison of
two proportions [12] (comparing the study group with the control group).

n = Minimum sample size

u = Standard normal deviate (SND) corresponding to the power of 80% (one-tail) = 1.28

v = SND corresponding to the confidence level of 95% for one-tailed test = 1.96

p1 = 25.4% (prevalence of respiratory symptoms among sawmillers resulting from poor knowledge of
occupational hazards among sawmillers in Ile-Ife. [13]

p2 = 12.1% (prevalence of respiratory symptoms among administrative workers resulting from poor knowledge of
occupational hazards among sawmillers in Benin). [14]

To compensate for non-response sample size was calculated as follows using the formula:

ns = n/0.90

Assuming 10% non-response rate

Where ns = Sample size to compensate for non-response

n = calculated sample size

0.90 = Taken as 90% response rate is anticipated

ns = 176/0.90

ns = 196.

One hundred and ninety-six sawmill workers were recruited for the study group and another 196 electrical traders
as control.

Sampling techniques

Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted in this study using the following stages:

Stage 1

Simple random technique (balloting) was used to select six LGAs out of the 16 available LGAs in the state. All
the zones in the selected LGAs were involved in the study. Thus, Kwara Central, Ilorin East LGA with eight
zones, Kwara South, Ifelodun LGA with four zones, Oke-Ero LGA with three zones, Ekiti LGA with five zones,
Kwara North, Moro LGA with two zones and Edu LGA with three zones were used.

Stage 2

All the zones in each selected LG (total 25) were included in the study.

The list of registered sawmill workers in each selected LGA (sampling frame) was generated, and added up and
proportional allocation was further used to select the eligible respondents in the selected LGAs.

Stage 3
Systematic sampling technique was used to select final respondents in each stratum/section. The sampling frame
was arrived at by counting the total number of registered sawmill workers in each register of the local
government.

Selection of controls

From the list of electrical workers obtained from the register of Kwara State Traders Association. A sampling
frame of eligible respondents (electrical traders) was obtained (567). Systematic sampling technique was used to
select the control. The list of registered electrical traders in selected LGAs as in study group were obtained
(sampling frame), proportional allocation was further used to select the eligible respondents in each LGAs and
sampling interval was obtained. Simple random sampling technique (balloting) was used to select the first
respondent; subsequent respondents were selected by adding sampling interval until the final respondent was
selected.

History of current ill health was ascertained, and those who were not apparently healthy were exempted.

A purpose designed interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used for the data collection in the
survey. It was adapted from British Medical Council questionnaire on occupational hazards. The questionnaire
elicited information on the respondents' socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge of occupational
hazards.

Scoring system was used for assessing the knowledge of the respondents in the study group on the hazards of
sawdust on health by awarding marks based on their responses. The maximum score for each of the question on
knowledge was 1 mark, and each wrong response and missing response carried 0 marks. The total score for each
of the respondents was obtained by the summation of the scores obtained from each of the question on the
knowledge of the respondent on the hazards of sawdust mentioned above.

The maximum score accrued to knowledge on occupational hazards was 15. Respondents with a total score of >7
were classified good knowledge on the hazards of sawdust, whereas respondents with total score of between 5 and
7 had average or fair knowledge on the hazards of sawdust and respondents with total score <5 had poor
knowledge on the hazards of sawdust in the workplace. This categorisation was informed by review of literatures.
The questions used in scoring total knowledge were internally consistent and reliable with a Cronbach's alpha
value of 0.839.

Data were collected from the respondents by the researcher and trained research assistants using interviewer-
administered questionnaire. The research assistants are Master of Public Health students. They were trained on
data collection, using the interviewer-administered questionnaire. They were required to explain to respondents in
situations where respondents did not understand the questions.

Data were entered using and SPSS version 16 (SPSS Inc. Released 2007. SPSS for Windows, Version 16.0.
Chicago, SPSS Inc.) software package before the analysis of the data. Chi-squared test was used for qualitative
data such as sex, educational status, religion, marital status and ethnicity, whereas t-test was used for continuous
variables that were normal in distribution such as age, height, weight and income. Fisher exact statistical test of
association was used when any of the expected cells is <5. Level of significance was set at a P < 0.05.

Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Ethical Review Committee, UITH, Ilorin. The ethical
approval dated from 30 th May 2013 through 29 th of May 2014.

Results

Socio-demographic characteristic of respondents

As seen in [Table 1], the mean age of the study group respondents was 37.78 ± 14.7 years, whereas that of the
unexposed group was 36.09 ± 13.2 years. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean age of the
two groups (P = 0.797). The mean income of the study group respondents was N24,622 (±5310), whereas that of
the control group was N25,702 (±7060) (N = Naira). The difference in income between the control and study
group respondents was statistically significant (P = 0.000).

Table 1: Socio - demographic characteristic of respondents

Click here to view

Majority of the respondents in the study group 177 (90.3%) and in the unexposed group 179 (91.3%) were males.
About half of the respondents in the study group 96 (49.0%) and more than half 116 (59.2%) in the control group
had completed their secondary education. Among the study group, 26 (13.3%) of respondents did not have any
form of education. However, all the respondents in the control group had one form of education or the other.
Similarly, among the control group, a greater proportion 45 (23.0%) had completed their tertiary education
compared with 36 (18.4%) among the study group. The observed difference among the two groups with respect to
level of education was statistically significant (P < 0.001).

Occupational characteristic of respondents

The respondents who had spent < 10 years in employment were 85 (43.4%) and 121 (61.7%) made up a greater
proportion of study and control groups, respectively. Less than one-third 28.6% and 23.5% of the study and
control group had spent 10-19 years duration of employment as seen in [Table 2]. The observed difference
between respondents and duration of employment was statistically significant (P = 0.002). The mean number of
years spent in the study was 13.27 ± 10.19 years, while the control grouP value was 9.16 ± 8.22 years, though similar,
but there was statistically significant difference between the groups.
Table 2: Occupational characteristic of respondents

Click here to view

With respect to the history of dusty job, a higher proportion of sawmill workers respondents 27 (13.8%) had been
exposed previously to dusty job compared to 13 (6.6%) among the control group. This difference was statistically
significant.

Respondents place of job training

Majority 179 (91.3%) and 182 (92.8%) of the respondents in the study and control groups, respectively, had
apprenticeship training, whereas very few 6 (3.1%) and 6 (3.1%) were formally trained in the technical school in
the study and control groups, respectively.

Knowledge of occupational-related hazards among sawmill workers

Knowledge score of the sawmill workers on occupational hazards was poor. As shown in [Table 3], about two-third
of the respondents 121 (61.7%) had poor knowledge, whereas 31 (15.8%) of the respondents had good knowledge and 44
(22.5%) of the respondents had average knowledge among the study group.
Table 3: Respondents place of job training

Click here to view

Respondents knowledge of hazard reduction by working limit of 8 hours

Half of the respondents 98 (50%) knew that exposure to hazards could be reduced by limiting the working hours
to a maximum of 8 hours/day, while 98 (50%) lacked this knowledge.

Respondents' knowledge of dust affecting health

A greater proportion of the respondents (138 or 70.4%) claimed that they knew that dust could affect their health
in the workplace, whereas 58 (29.6%) lacked this knowledge.

Respondent's knowledge of acceptable maximum working hours per day

A greater proportion of the respondents 123 (62.8%) claimed that they did not know the maximum acceptable
working hours per day, whereas 73 (37.2%) had the knowledge.

Predictors of poor knowledge of occupational-related hazards among the sawmill workers from logistic
regression

Hausa ethnic group was more likely to have poor knowledge of occupational-related hazards (odds ratio [OR]
4.832, 95% confidence interval [1.039-22.467], P = 0.045) compared with other ethnic groups. Furthermore, the
odds of having poor knowledge of hazards were 1.739 times more among divorced sawmill workers as compared
with married sawmill workers (OR 1.739, 95% CI = 0.106-28.565; P > 0.05). As shown in [Table 4], those with
primary education were more likely to have poor knowledge of workplace hazards when compared with tertiary
form of education, as odds of having poor knowledge were 2.936 higher among the primary level of education
(OR 2.936, 95% CI = 0.965-8.928, P > 0.05).

Table 4: Predictors of poor knowledge of occupational-related hazards among the sawmill

workers from logistic regression

Click here to view

Self-reported health hazards experienced by respondents

More than three-quarter 157 (80.1%) had experienced noise, followed by heat 118 (60.2%) and injuries 66
(33.7%) among the study group as evident in [Table 5]. However, among the control group, the most common hazards
were heat 145 (74.0%), noise 99 (50.5%) and electric shock 41 (20.9%), respectively. The differences in the presence of
noise, heat, injuries, electric shock and slips/fall were significantly different between study and control groups.

Table 5: Types of self - reported health hazards experienced by respondents

Click here to view

Work-related health problems experienced by respondents

The most prevalent health problems among the study group were stress and exhaustion, 153 (78.1%), followed by
eye irritation 102 (52.0%). Similarly, among the control group, the most prevalent health problems were stress and
exhaustion 120 (61.2%) followed by eye irritation 49 (25.0%). The difference in the prevalence of difficulty in
breathing, eye irritation, skin irritation, accident and stress/exhaustion were statistically significant between the
study and control groups. [Table 6] shows work related health problems experienced by respondents.
 Table 6: Work related health problems experienced by respondents

Click here to view

Discussion

The socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents showed that the mean age of the respondents was 37.78
± 14.69 and 36.09 ± 13.24 years among the sawmill workers and the control group, respectively. The mean age of
respondents from this study was higher than what was found among carpentry workers in Kaduna, North West
Nigeria, and Sunsari, Nepal, Jute Mill workers where the mean values were 24.60 ± 0.61 and 28.43 ± 7.58 years,
respectively. [15],[16] However, it was similar to that found among sawmill workers, in Ilorin, dock and elevators
workers in the port city of Vancouver, Canada. [17]

Majority of the respondents were males and this was not out of place considering the strenuous and dusty nature
of the job. The male dominance was similar to that found among Danish furniture industry in Denmark [18] and
among flour processing bakery workers in Transkei, South Africa. [19]

The highest educational qualification of more than half of the respondents in the control group and close to half of
the respondents in the study group was a secondary school. The finding was similar to the findings of Awoyemi in
Ilorin, North Central Nigeria, where the secondary school was the major qualification among sawmill workers
studied. [20] The rest had either no formal education at all or only primary education as in the control group of this
study. These findings may not be surprising as the majority of these workers were unskilled who only required
apprenticeship to carry out their job.

Almost all the respondents in the study (91.3%) and control group (92.9%) received their training

through apprenticeship. This was similar to the findings in Northern Nigeria, where all the respondents
interviewed received their training through apprenticeship. [21] The shortcoming of apprentice training is that the
trainee is exposed to only what the trainer knows and practices.

The most common work-related hazards experienced by the sawmill workers were noise, heat, injuries and
electric shock. This finding was similar to the result obtained from studies in Ilorin, Osogbo and Colombia. [6],[22],
[23]

The most common self-reported health problems by respondents in both study and control groups were stress and
exhaustion followed by eye irritation. The stress or exhaustion observed among the study population could
aggravate the severity of injuries as a result of increased risk of accidents. This was similar to findings of a study
carried out in Benin City that found a high prevalence of work-related ocular trauma injury among sawmills
workers. [24] The stress or exhaustion found in this study was not surprising as majority of the respondents in both
study and control group spent more than 5 days at workshop and this could reduce productivity at work apart from
the tendency to increase the likelihood of predisposing workers to occupational hazards, while the occurrence of
eye irritation in study group could be due to non-availability of eye goggles for the respondents.

Majority of respondents in the study groups had a poor knowledge of the danger of sawmill dust and health
effects of the dust. This was probably due to the fact that most of the respondents received their training through
apprenticeship and thereby rely on their masters for information on the job especially knowledge of hazards
associated with wood dust of which the master too probably have insufficient knowledge. This lack of formal
training for the job might not allow the workers to learn about the hazards associated with their occupation as well
as possible precautions to be taken in the practice of their vocation. The poor knowledge could explain hazards
and probably health problems associated with sawmill workers due to their poor knowledge hence exposure of
workers to wood dust and subsequent development of diverse occupational diseases.
This finding was similar to what was obtained in a related study done in Kota Bharu, (Turkey), and Kelantan that
reported poor knowledge of occupationally related hazards among sawmills workers. [25]

The predictor of having poor knowledge of work-related health hazards was found to be low level of education as
the likelihood of poor knowledge of hazards decreased as the level of education increased. This could have been
due to the fact that being educated increases access to information education and communication materials and
increased awareness on various workplace hazards. The implications of this are that sawmill workers are likely to
develop various respiratory symptoms and occupational lung diseases of obstructive and restrictive patterns.

Conclusion

Sawmill workers experience noise, heat and injury compared to heat, noise and electric shock among the control
group; the two groups had stress and exhaustion as the most common work-related health problems.

Recommendation

Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made with the hope that if implemented
there will be improvement in the health of sawmill workers and subsequently boost their productivity.

The Local Government Authority (Health Department) in partnership with Federal Ministry of Labour and
Productivity and other relevant agencies and trade unions need to organise periodic workshops and training
programmes on health and safety to cover proper education on workplace hazards, types and proper use of
different protective devices to safeguard their health. There is a need to re-emphasise formal training of sawmill
workers by the technical schools to increase awareness and knowledge of work-related hazards.

Financial support and sponsorship

Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

References

1. Asuzu MC. Occupational health: A summary introduction and outline of principles. 1 st ed. Ibadan: Africa -
Link Book; 2002.

2. Paul D, Hugh D. Occupational hazards and control, saw mill process. Available from: <="" a="">. [Last
accessed on 2012 Feb 09].

3. Alamgir H, Demers PA, Koehoorn M, Ostry A, Tompa E. Epidemiology of work-related injuries requiring
hospitalization among sawmill workers in British Columbia, 1989-1997. Eur J Epidemiol 2007;22:273-
80.

4. Thomas LB. Wood Dust Exposure Hazards. Available from: <="" a="">. [Last accessed on 2012 Apr 15].

5. Huff J. Sawmill chemicals and carcinogenesis. Environ Health Perspect 2001;109:209-12.

6. Osagbemi GK, La-Kadri RT, Aderibigbe SA. Awareness of occupational, hazards, health problems and
safety measures among saw mill workers in North Central Nigeria. TAF Prev Med Bull 2010;9:325-8.

7. Kwesi A, Kwasi D. Occupational health and safety, key issues and concerns in Ghana. Int J Bus Soc Sci
 2003;2:119-24.

8. Muchiri FK. Occupational health and development in Africa: Challenges and the way forward. Afr Newsl
Occup Health Saf 2003;13:113-27.

9. Workplace Health and Safety Bulletin. Health effects from exposure to wood dust. Available from: <=""
a=""> [Last accessed on 2011 Dec 22].

10. Information was retrieved from the National Population Commision office, Kwara State. Accessed Apr
2015.

11. Regiter of National Association of Sawmill workers as at February, 2012. Kwara state.

12. Varkevisser C, Pathmanathan I, Brownlee A. Designing and Conducting Health Systems Research Projects.
Amsterdam: KIT Publishers; 2003. p. 369.

13. Fatusi A, Erhabor G. Occupational health status of sawmill workers in Nigeria. J R Soc Health
1996;116:232-6.

14. Ugheoke AJ, Wahab WK, Erhabor GE. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms among saw mill workers in
Benin City, Nigeria. Int J Trop Med 2009;4:1-3.

15. Tanko Y, Olakunle A, Jimoh A, Mohammed ADT, Musa KY. Effects of wood dust on cardiopulmonary
functions and anthropometric parameters of carpenters and non carpenters in Sabon-Gari LGA, Kaduna
State, Nigeria. Asian J Med Sci 2011;3:43-6.

16. Das PK, Jha N. Occupational exposure and pulmonary function of jute mill workers in Sunsari, Nepal.
Nepal Med Coll J 2009;11:275-7.

17. Tabona M, Chan-Yeung M, Enarson D, MacLean L, Dorken E, Schulzer M. Host factors affecting
longitudinal decline in lung spirometry among grain elevator workers. Chest 1984;85:782-6.

18. Jacobsen G, Schlünssen V, Schaumburg I, Taudorf E, Sigsgaard T. Longitudinal lung function decline and
wood dust exposure in the furniture industry. Eur Respir J 2008;31:334-42.

19. Shamssain MH. Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in flour processing workers in the baking
industry. Am J Ind Med 1995;27:359-65.

20. Awoyemi AO. Occupational health problems of sawmill workers in Ilorin, Nigeria. Biosci Res Commun
1997;9:139-41.

21. Sabitu K, Iliyasu Z, Dauda MM. Awareness of occupational hazards and utilization of safety measures
among welders in Kaduna metropolis, Northern Nigeria. Ann Afr Med 2009;8:46-51.
[PUBMED]
22. Bamidele JO, Adebimpe WO, Dairo MD. Pattern of hand injuries among sawmill workers in Osogbo,
Southwestern Nigeria. Nig Q J Hosp Med 2011;21:64-9.

23. Bello SR, Mijinyawa Y. Assessment of injuries in small scale sawmill industry of Southwestern Nigeria. J
Sci Res Dev 2010;7:1-5.

24. Uhumwangho OM, Njinaka I, Edema OT, Dawodu OA, Omoti AE. Occupational eye injury among sawmill
workers in Nigeria. Asian J Med Sci 2010;2:233-6.

25. Dave KV, Cecil D, Murray F, Don S, Lawrence K, Paul V, et al. Occupational exposure to chemical,
biological and physical agents in Ontario saw mill and veneer/plywood plants. J Environ Public Health
 2007;1:16-20.
http://www.npmj.org/article.asp?issn=1117-1936;year=2016;volume=23;issue=1;spage=25;epage=32;aulast=Agbana