Agbebi F.O.
International Journal of Rural Development, Environment and Health Research(IJREH), Vol-2,Issue-2, March - April 2018, Pages 39-45, 10.22161/ijreh.2.2.5
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The study analyzed the occupational health hazards of fish smoking among fisher-folks in the coastal areas of Ondo State, Nigeria and further proffered strategies for their management and control. Fish smoking combines the effects of drying, heating, and smoking coupled with salting. The pre-treatment involves gutting, splitting and smoking using firewood. Smoking is the oldest, convectional and most common methods used where the heat from the fire dries the fish while chemicals from the smoke impregnate the flesh. Simple random sampling technique was used in the selection of 120 fisher-folks as sample size. Descriptive statistics were used for the objectives while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to test the hypotheses. Fish processing, the activities associated with fish and fish products between the time fish were caught or harvested, and the time the final product is delivered to the customer is fraught with potential hazards and risks which are categorized into occupational, environmental, food safety and public health. In the study area, it was observed that female dominated the processing sector (70%) and majority are married and educated up to secondary level. They have spent 5-10 years in the fish smoking business. Results of correlation showed that positive and significant relationship existed between occupational health hazards and income loss. Major occupational hazards recorded in the study areas are; redness and swelling of the eyes which is the commonest, chronic obstructive respiratory diseases, stress related health problems sting from fish spines, knife cuts, snake bites while fetching firewood (physical), parasitic and pathogenic infection (biological), hazards from disinfectant used (chemical), broken bones and dislocation, back strain (ergonomic), prolong work hour and high mental demand (psychosocial). Fish smoking also has some challenges. Fish industry stakeholders should therefore ensure that guidelines and policies which promote an environmentally friendly and sustainable industry are instituted and enforced.