Abstract

Metal Fabrication (MetFab) is the process of building machines and structures from raw metal materials. The process of MetFab includes cutting, burning, welding, machining, forming, and assembly to heavy equipment and machinery and comes with numerous hazards such as cut and puncture injuries (CP-injuries). The aim of this study was to conduct an assessment of MetFab-related injuries among metal fabricators. The objectives intended to find the leading causes of workers’ exposure to CP-injuries and compare work methods adopted by the workers with the recommended guidelines. Data was collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire among 250 metal fabricators. The data was analyzed using SPSS. The outcome of the study revealed that about 78.0% of the metal fabricators suffered from abrasion injuries, 88.0% suffered cut injuries while 38% reported laceration. Hands region was mostly affected by 94% of the subjects. According to 58% of the total respondents, the injuries resulted into loss of dexterity while 56% had loss of grip; improper selection of tools for the job was among the major leading causal factors. The study revealed that ergonomic recommended guidelines relevant to MetFab industry were not followed. The subjects’ workstations were hazardous. It was recommended that metal fabricators should be trained on proper selection of right tools and PPE. The application of ergonomic guidelines should been forced among the workers to enhance occupational health and safety of the workers.