RISK PERCEPTION OF AIR QUALITY OF SAWMILL AROUND BENIN CITY METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to assess the risk perception of air quality around sawmills in Benin City Metropolis. Sawmills can be found in different parts of cities, especially in developing countries, with workers having little or no knowledge of how their operational activities would affect their health. The study relied primarily on the administration of a questionnaires. A total of 150 questionnaires were administered to respondents/workers in the three major sawmills in Benin City. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16.0. Statistical tools such as frequency, percentage, and Chi-square were also used to analyze relevant variables. 95% confidence level, a P<0.05 was considered statistically significant for the study. The majority (82%) of respondents were males; the majority (30%) were between the ages of 51 and 60; and the majority (34%) had worked in sawmills for ten years or more. The study found that sawmill environments are often polluted and there is poor adaptive capacity among sawmill workers. Findings from respondents revealed that the most prevalent health risks among workers at the sites were headache, catarrh, cough, chest pain, eye irritation, and sneezing. This research showed that sawmill workers were very aware of the dangers of their jobs, but they avoided using personal protective equipment. Hence, there is a need for increased education and awareness of the health risks that arise from air pollutants among sawmill workers in Benin City.