Abstract:
Deathcare workers in Ghana are also entitled to conditions of work that uphold their health, safety, and general well-being. However, these workers are neglected and disproportionately exposed to psycho-physiological hazards and operate under dehumanising conditions. Meanwhile, there is still a lot more to be known about the deathcare industry in Ghana. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to examine the on-site safety practices and health experiences of deathcare workers in the Western Region of Ghana. Descriptive phenomenological designs with observation were employed. Through census, all 12 functional deathcare facilities were selected and assessed, while 51 deathcare workers and 12 managers were purposively selected and conveniently interviewed. Data collection started from 8th February to 10th March, 2024. Additionally, the safety work practices of all 51 workers were observed using structured observation checklists. Thematic data analysis was conducted using the NVivo version 14. Six themes and 21 sub-themes emerged based on four stated research questions. The workers’ knowledge of industry regulations was inadequate and their workplace safety practices were poor. Additionally, the workers were ill-prepared to manage infectious dead bodies and there were no clear systems in place for workers protection against infectious diseases. Also, on-site physical and psychosocial safety hazards were widespread and the workers may contract infections from the dead bodies which may spread to their immediate families and the general public. Therefore, Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency needs to carryout quarterly assessment of deathcare facilities to ensure the workers are adequately protected
