Work Safety Among Forestry Workers in Ghana

Dipl.-Kfm./Univ. Eric Obiri Yeboah

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Abstract Safety at workplaces is an essential concern for all employees, employers and society as well. Safety is of critical concern because workplace injuries and accidents have many complications on the life of the individual worker as well as others in the community. Foresters are like all other workers require safe working environments. However, the work performs by foresters are considered among occupations with high risks of work-related injuries. This work reviewed factors affecting injury among forestry workers in Ghana and looks at scientific literature available worldwide on the topic. It also looked at the working conditions of foresters in the developed countries as compared to that of developing countries. A survey of forester's health and safety has since being conducted for forest workers in Ghana. The survey was necessitated from the shortage of statistics on this topic, even though accidents and health breaches occurrence in Ghanaian forestry work. A questionnaire that inquired about safety, working conditions and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) showed 24% of the respondents experienced accidents during work. Many of these accidents consisted of cuts by chainsaws or axes. Another revelation from these administered questionnaires was the fact that most of the respondents, although they were aware of the relevance of PPE use, did not wear any appropriate PPEs. Eighty per cent (80%) of the respondents admitted that they use partial protective equipment. All categories of respondents indicated that they had had the use of PPEs recommended for them.

Keywords

Forestry, Accidents, Safety

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 14. 6. 2020

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Jan Macků, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences

Bachelor programme / field:
Forestry / Forestry