Occupational Health Status of Sawmill Workers in Osun State: A Descriptive Survey

Sawmill workers in Nigeria face multidimensional occupational health hazards, including exposure to wood dust, mechanical injury risks, and excessive noise. This descriptive study assessed the occupational health status of sawmill workers in Osogbo, Osun State, South West Nigeria. A total of 155 workers were recruited from registered and unregistered sawmills using convenience sampling. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire, clinical examination by a trained health officer, and environmental noise measurements using a digital sound level meter. Results revealed that noise levels in 81.3 percent of sawmills exceeded the national permissible exposure limit of 85 dB(A), and dust concentrations surpassed the recommended threshold in 74.2 percent of facilities. Clinical assessments identified respiratory symptoms in 61.3 percent of participants, hearing impairment in 43.2 percent, and musculoskeletal complaints in 72.3 percent. Laceration injuries were reported by 57.4 percent of workers, predominantly from saw blade contact. None of the sampled sawmills had a functional occupational health unit or first aid station. Personal protective equipment coverage was below 15 percent for all hazard categories assessed. The study concludes that occupational health risks in Osun State sawmills are severe and systemic, and recommends multi-agency regulatory inspections, mandatory occupational health clinics at large sawmills, and structured hazard communication programs for all workers. Keywords: sawmill workers, wood dust, noise exposure, occupational injuries, Osun State.