Assessment of Occupational Hazards Among Welders in Selected Workshops in Kaduna Metropolis, North West Nigeria

Welding activities generate multiple occupational health hazards including fume exposure, ultraviolet radiation, noise, and ergonomic risks. This cross-sectional study assessed the occupational hazards and health outcomes among welders in selected auto-fabrication workshops in Kaduna Metropolis, North West Nigeria. A total of 215 welders participated in structured interviews, physical examination, and workplace hazard observation using a standardized checklist. Spirometry was performed to assess respiratory function. Findings showed that ninety-one percent of workshops lacked adequate local exhaust ventilation, while only twenty-three percent of welders consistently used appropriate personal protective equipment. Noise levels in sixty percent of sampled workshops exceeded the permissible exposure limit of 85 dB(A). Respiratory symptoms, including persistent cough, breathlessness, and chest tightness, were reported by fifty-eight percent of participants, with forced expiratory volume values below predicted norms in thirty-four percent of cases. Eye injuries and arc-flash incidents were frequently reported, accounting for forty-seven percent of all documented health events. Duration of work experience correlated significantly with declining pulmonary function. The study concludes that occupational health risks in Kaduna workshops are inadequately controlled. It recommends enforcement of occupational safety regulations, provision of subsidized protective equipment, and establishment of routine medical surveillance programs for artisan welders. Keywords: welding hazards, occupational health, pulmonary function, Kaduna, protective equipment.