Abstract
Introduction: The health and safety of employees play a crucial role in the production and in the economy at large. In the farming industry injuries on duty are associated with a faster pace of work, fatigue, and rigid controls to improve productivity. Occupational health promotes and maintains the highest value of workers’ mental, physical, and social well-being in any organization. Work-related accidents have the highest financial effect on the organization because they reduce productivity and necessitate spending money on the injured worker’s medical care. Injuries on duty pose a major public health and development problem in the workplace. This study focused on injuries between 2021 and 2023.
Aims and objectives: The study aimed at determining predictors of injuries on duty among general workers at a chicken processing farm in the Western Cape, South Africa. The research objectives focused on identifying prevalent types and causes of injuries, examining demographic characteristics associated with injury risk, investigating occupational hazards, and assessing the impact of stress on injuries on duty.
Methods: A quantitative longitudinal research study design which used frequency distribution tables and Pearson correlation tests to analyze the data collected through questionnaires in a chicken processing farm in Western Cape. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. EPI INFO version 7.2.5.0 from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention was used to determine the sample size for a population survey design. The sample size for the study was calculated to be 293 participants.
Results
The study comprised 293 participants and results revealed abrasions (n=70, 50.3%) and punctures (n=45, 32.6%) as the most common types of injuries, primarily caused by cuts (40, 29.0%) and slip-and-fall (n=50, 36.2%) incidents. Fingers (n=39, 28.3%) and hands (n=27, 19.6%) were the most affected body parts due to tasks involving knife usage and wet floors. Female workers (n=196, 65.5%) and those with lower levels of education (n=270, 92%) experienced higher injury prevalence. Longer working hours (>40 Hours) were significantly associated with certain types of injuries such as abrasion (p=0.007), puncture (p=0.023) and back injuries (p=0.001), emphasizing the importance of managing work schedules to mitigate injury risks. Additionally, while personal protective equipment (PPE) showed potential protective effects against some injuries, the associations were not statistically significant.
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The study also explored the influence of working conditions, job satisfaction, safety culture perception, and stress on injuries. While workers generally expressed neutral to positive sentiments regarding job satisfaction and safety culture, stress from both work and family environment was found to be correlated with workplace injuries.
Conclusion: The study highlights the need for targeted interventions and safety measures tailored to specific demographic and work-related contexts to mitigate injury risks. Enhancing occupational safety, promoting stress management, addressing hazards related to knife usage and wet floors are crucial steps toward improving workplace well-being and reducing the prevalence of injuries in this industry. Further research is recommended to delve deeper into the complexities of these relationships and develop comprehensive strategies for injury prevention and employee well-being.
Keywords: Occupational injuries, stress, injury types