Eye injuries among heavy industries in Tema metropolis, Ghana

In assessing the prevalence and determinants of eye injuries in heavy industries in Tema, Ghana, a descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken. Fifty-eight (58) workers of three heavy industries located in Tema, Ghana were sampled for the research. Workers’ responses on age, level of education, years of working and active use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), amongst others were taken. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0 was used to analyse the data. Of the 58 participants, 16 (27.6%) reported having had one ocular injury or the other. Approximately eighty-one per cent (81.25%) of those who reported on ocular injuries were males and 18.75% were females. The participants’ ages range from 20 years to 52 years with a mean age of 34.5±6.78 years. Mechanical injury caused by foreign body was the most prevalent eye injury reported in this study. The study further revealed that higher education; active use of protective clothing and training in occupational health and safety mitigated the likelihood of sustaining industrial ocular injuries. It is recommended that, the Ministries of Health and Industry should compel factories to keep records of eye injuries of their staffs, and as well intensify eye health education among factory workers.