Epidemiology of Occupational Injuries at Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) PLC, Sokoto.

Abstract

Occupational injuries associated with staff of different departments of the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) Sokoto, PLC, was studied through the case records at the factory clinic of the company. The aim was to establish the relationship between jobs undertaken and diseases amongst the employees. Of the 270 diseases encountered by the CCNN staff, only 62 (22.9%) cases were occupationally related. Pruritus and skin rashes appeared with the highest frequency 29 (10.7%) and occurred amongst staff of production department only, affecting mainly, those working in the raw mill section of the department. The cases of Chronic Obstructive Airway Diseases (COAD) accounted for 16 (5.9%) with those working in the quarry and raw mill sections being the most affected. Cases of bums accounted for 14(5.2%), with over ninety two percent of it occurring in the kiln section alone. Although the cases of crushing of extremities were seen in both mechanical and electrical departments, most (over 66%) of them occurred in the mechanical department alone. Diseases such as hypertension, malaria, typhoid, etc, which are not occupation related, occurred amongst staff of almost all the departments of the company. The year 1994, had the highest frequency of work related diseases, while the least occurrence was seen in the year 2000. It is concluded that pruritus and skin rashes, Chronic Obstructive Airway Diseases (COAD), bums and traumatic crush injuries of the extremities were the prevalent occupational injuries amongst the staff of CCNN, PLC, Sokoto, and production is the most hazardous department in the company. Understanding the distribution of diseases in different departments ofthe company by the employers is recommendable. This will help the employers to provide safety measures for the employees. Key words: Occupation, hazard, CCNN Staff, Sokoto.