208d - Occupational hygiene studies in the informal sector in Ghana: roadside mechanics shop activities and artisanal & small-scale mining activities

Abstract Ghana has a large informal work sector which makes up close to 85% of the urban economy (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291120300838). This sector has minimal regulated working conditions, with workers having to rely on seasonal or production demand-based work. WHWB is carrying out two projects in the informal sector in Ghana, namely, “Roadside Mechanics Shop Activities” and “Artisanal & Small-Scale Mining Activities”. These projects commenced in Q3 2022, and both projects should be completed and reported on by Q1 2024. These projects are being supported by WHWB, SKC UK, and the Belgian Center for Occupational Hygiene (BeCOH). An AIHA grant has been received for funding the Roadside Mechanics Shop Activities project, a WHWB International grant has been received for funding the Artisanal & Small-Scale Mining Activities project, and donations are also welcome via this GoFundMe link: https://gofund.me/e26ba537. The Ghanaian regulatory authorities, whilst keen to improve the regulation of these sectors, are currently not well-informed of occupational/industrial hygiene aspects and do not have the technical resources to recognise, evaluate or control workplace health exposures. The outcomes of these projects will be available to the Ghanaian regulatory authorities, to improve workplace health matters in these industrial sectors. The outcomes of these projects will help to increase the awareness of workplace health issues in these sectors and will allow the implementation of appropriate workplace control strategies to improve workplace health conditions. This presentation will describe both projects, the findings, challenges, and positive outcomes.