Occupational injuries among workers in a welding company within Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality

Abstract

A questionnaire survey was conducted among 37 welders and 21 fitters (exposed group) and 30 office workers (unexposed group) employed by a welding company located in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. The objective was to calculate and describe the prevalence of occupational injuries among these workers and to compare the frequencies of injuries among the employees. A total of 87 injuries were reported by workers. The most common injuries sustained were burns (n=29), cuts (n=24) eye injuries inflicted by foreign objects (n=19), electric shock (n=8), arc eyes (n=4) and bone fracture (n=3). Most occurred on the hands (n=57). More workers in the exposed group sustained injuries than in the unexposed group. It is necessary to implement safety measures in order to reduce the prevalence of the injuries.