Work-Related Health and Safety Challenges of Rice Irrigation Farmworkers



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Submitted Feb 2, 2022
Published Feb 26, 2022
10.24018/ejbmr.2022.7.1.1296

Abstract viewed = 551 times

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Workers in the agricultural sector face several work-related health and safety challenges, similar to what workers in other high-risk sectors experience. However, there is a dearth of research efforts in the informal agricultural sector regarding the health and safety of farmworkers. The present paper explored the common work-related health and safety challenges that rice farmworkers in major irrigation schemes in southern Ghana experienced. The paper also explored the attitude and extent of personal protective equipment usage among rice farmworkers. Data were obtained from 11 key informants selected from three irrigation schemes and transcribed verbatim for analysis. Analysis of the data involved theoretical thematic analysis of Braun and Clarke. The analysis showed that rice farmworkers experienced several work-related health issues, injuries, and disorders, including cutlass injuries, lower back disorders, and malaria. It was also observed that the farmers were not using appropriate personal protective equipment. The implications of the findings were discussed and practical recommendations were made to help improve the safety and well-being of rice farmworkers.

Keywords: convenience safety violation, informal agriculture, irrigation farmworkers, work-related lower back disorder

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