Abstract

Abattoir employees working in close contact with animals/animal waste products were investigated for various job-related physical and biological hazards/challenges linked to age, gender, job specializations and duration with associated risks.122 herdsmen, butchers, cleaners and 98 residents (control) whose ages ranged between 14 and 81 years participated in the study. A structured questionnaire was administered to obtain demographic data while blood samples were obtained in code-labeled sterile plain/EDTA bottles using standard laboratory procedures for microbial isolation, morphological and biochemical analysis. Statistical analysis of data obtained thereof were processed using SPSS – version 15. The ages, marital status, types of accommodation, religious affiliations and job specialization of the participants’ -89 (73%) men and 33 (27%) women--had no effect on the types of occupation hazards. However, there was a significant difference in physical and biological hazards (X²=2.06; p<0.05) between abattoir workers and control: Butchers were mostly predisposed to physical hazards (89% knife cuts) compared to enhance biological hazards among the herdsmen (64.7%). Blood-borne infections (29.5%) were higher in the abattoir workers compared to the control (8.2%). The patterns of blood-borne-infections (X²=10.39; p<0.05) and job specializations among abattoir workers increased with years of exposure. Abattoir occupational hazards sequel to iatrogenic or transmissible agents increase with job-related exposure to risks factors though majorly under-reported. Most of these identified physical injuries and zoonotic infections are preventable by health monitoring, identification of hazards, Exposure Control Plan, a combination of good occupational, environmental hygiene and design; and control of microbial contaminations.