Occupational health and safety issues in the informal manufacturing sector of Cape Coast Metropolis

Abstract

Despite numerous occupational health and safety interventions made in recent years, poor occupational health and safety practices are still prevalent in Ghana’s informal sector. This study therefore sought to explore the main health and safety issues faced by informal manufacturing sector workers in Cape Coast metropolis in order to suggest preventive and control measures. The study adopted the qualitative research design to study 10 workers each from the informal food processing, textile and garments, wood processing and metal work categories within the Cape Coast metropolis. Convenience sampling was adopted to select the workers and purposive sampling was used to select officials of the National Board for Small Scale Industries and the Department of Factories Inspectorate. The study revealed a significant institutional gap in the provision of health and safety to informal manufacturing workers. It also showed that occupational health and safety institutions are under resourced in their service delivery. The research further revealed that informal manufacturing sector workers do not have the necessary awareness, technical means and resources to implement health and safety measures. Pursuant to these outcomes, the study recommends that a long-term strategy be developed to address the issue. The strategy should include awareness creation, training for informal workers on the use of Personal Protective Equipment, provision of health and safety services to informal workers and periodic visits by health officials to assess practices of informal workers. Additionally, employers and employees should be encouraged to make conscious efforts in improving health and safety at their work place.