A person's occupation has an important influence on his health and well being. The kind of occupation one is involved in is supposed to be a means of happiness, satisfaction, social status and companionship, but it can result in stress, dissatisfaction and threat to worker's health and well-being [1]. These threats to health may be interrelated across the various work boundaries.

In South Africa, according to Kotze [2] about 80% of workers suspect that their illnesses are linked to their jobs. He stated further, that during the industrial revolution in Europe, many reports became available of diseases and accidents at the work place. As a result, organized health services were developed for workers in large industries such as those involved with wood, mining, chemicals, textiles, metals, manufacturing, paper and pulp. The main services were the prevention and medical treatment of occupational injuries and diseases. Oluwagbem [3] explained that furniture making involves building, making or carving something using wood. According to them, woodworks has developed a number of techniques to produce a wide range of products such as furniture, sculptures, coffins and more. The wood making process includes sawing, chipping, latching, drilling, putting of veneer, chipping and mechanical defibrillating. These processes have inherent hazards.

Asogwa [4] suggested that wood making industries engage workers of various types including joinery men, sprayers, upholstery men, apprentices, security men etc. in their workshops where the woods are cut into various sizes. This process of sawing the wood produces fine airborne dust particles known and called chips or splinters. According to Osuji [5] these fine airborne dust particles generated can bring about a number of respiratory diseases such as asthma, hypersensitive pneumonia and lung scarring caused by repeated inhalation. Prolonged exposure to these fine airborne wood dust is now connected with a specific kind of nasal/sinus cancer called Adenocarcinoma. The latency of this type of disease is between 40 and 45 years. Osuji also stated that 7 of 10,000 furniture/wood workers are likely to develop this disease. It was also suggested that most of the workmen do not know the importance of using protective tools and safe materials, and may neverbe told the dangers inherent in their work process. These furniture makers discover these dangers sometimes at the expense and risk of their lives [6].

Studies by Dewers, Teschke, Davies, Kenedy and Leving [7] with animals exposed to wood dust revealed that, wood dust inhalation can cause pulmonary fibrosis and inflammatory changes in the lungs. They further stated that wood dust becomes a "potential health problem" when the wood dust particles from processes such as sawing, sanding shaping or planning wood becomes airborne. Breathing in these particles may cause external and internal health problems such as dermatitis, allergic reactions, nasal reactions and also make workers more susceptible to a specific kind of cancer called adenocarcinoma. Ikogho and Olikiabor [8] lamented that the labour force is still highly segregated. Women are entering occupations previously meant for men. It was also noted that before now some occupations were the exclusive reserve of the males such as engineering, medicine and others. They suggested that the Health hazards of women workers have been traditionally underestimated because occupational safety and Health standards and exposure limits are based on male population while the female population is neglected. In the same vein, Oluwagbemi [3] opined that the ability to work as male or female declines with age. He also stated that there are special areas where older workers are disadvantaged especially heavy manual work and as a result alternative work is essential for almost all of them. Moreover, a report by Health and Safety Executive (HSE), [9] has it that "Older workers are less accident prone in the work place.

Furniture makers use various kinds of machines in the process of sawing woods. These machines according to Oluwagbemi [3] presents a number of hazards. Apart from the high speed cutters and fast moving parts creating nip points (found on saws, spindle moulders and routers) can lacerate body parts, wood working also generates chips, splinters and dust chips, splinters and dust chips can pierce the skin, airborne dust can enter the eyes to cause conjunctivitis or inflame the mucous membrane of nose and throat when inhaled. Noise pollution and vibrations are inevitable in furniture making as they can cause hearing impediment. The dust of some timbers may produce allergic reactions and occasionally, nervous disorders and systemic poisoning.

Furniture makers make use of chemicals such as acids formalin solvent, gamaline 20, sanding sealer, top bond, thinner etc to preserve and treat wood could cause burns, respiratory problems even asthma, when workers come in contact with them [10]. Nwachukwu [11] have stressed that hazards of the factory such as those produced in furniture factory or mine can extend beyond the work place and endanger workers, families and other residents of the community. They emphasized that workers carry dust particles on their skin and clothing to their homes. This may be the reason why Asogwa [4] emphasized that one of the possible fringe benefits offered to employees should be treatment of the workers immediate relations. This he said usually includes the worker and his/her family members and dependants. The reason for extending his service to the workers dependant is that illness in the family can upset a worker and reduce his productivity. Moreover, many workmen have had to discover in most cases the danger of the materials and tools they use in a hard way [12].

In Nigeria, Ikogho and Olikiabor [8] opined that workmen hardly ever wear protective gadgets like eye goggles or ear muff probably due to ignorance or because they were do not have the resources to purchase them. In cases when they are provided they are not convenient to wear because of their low level of literacy or probably because their employers are focused on profit-making and as a result show little or no concern for their workers' health. This may probably be what Osujih, [5] meant when he said that most of the workers job and duties are short-lived and on the basis of "hire and fire" and little attention is paid to their health. Without health according to Owie, [13] life is deprived of its joy and pleasure. Thus, a worker whose health becomes affected in the course of his work has lost joy and pleasure.This study was therefore intended to find out the occupational hazards of furniture makers in Ughelli North Local Government Area (L.G.A) of Delta State.

Statement of the Problem

Every job, trade or profession comes with some unusual risks and hazards. These risks are more pronounced in some occupations than in others and furniture making is not an exception. However, of concern is the fact that some furniture makers are very young and most often may not have fully internalize the work process. However, it was also observed that most workmen in this industry could not be different from other workmen in other production industries with regards to exposure to work hazards. This study to the best of the researcher's knowledge was intended to determine the physical and chemical hazards associated with furniture making and also to determine the influence of gender and age on the occupation.

Purpose of The Study

The purpose of this study was to identify the physical and chemical hazards associated with furniture makers in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. Also to find out the effect of gender and age on occupation hazards of furniture makers.

Research Questions

The following research questions were raised to give a guide to the study:

• What are the health hazards associated with furniture makers in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State

• What are the chemical hazards associated with furniture makers in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State

• What is the significance of gender on occupational hazards of furniture makers in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State

• What is the significance of age on occupational hazards of furniture makers in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State

Hypotheses

• There is no significant difference between gender and occupational health hazards of furniture makers in Ughelli North L.G.A. of Delta State

• There is no significant difference between age and occupational health hazards of furniture makers in Ughelli North L. G. A. of Delta State

Significance of The Study

It is hoped that the findings of this study may provide accurate information on the occupational hazards of furniture makers in Ughelli North L.G.A. as a base line data for intervention aimed at bringing about attitudinal change towards prevention and control of such hazards. The findings may also stimulate Delta State Ministry of Labour and Productivity to liaise to review various labour laws, and also enforce mechanism to ensure compliance on health issues.

Descriptive survey design was used for the conduct of the study. The population of the study consisted of six hundred and forty-nine (649) furniture makers in Ughelli North L.G.A of Delta State. This figure was retrieved from the register of the National Union of Professional Furniture makers and Carpenters, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Branch on 20th October, 2021. The sample size for this study was the entire furniture makers in Ugielli North L.G.A totaling six hundred and forty-nine. The instrument for data collection in this study was a modified questionnaire, divided into sections A and B. Section A deal with demographic data of respondents while B consisted of items demanding responses based on occupational hazards of furniture makers. The response options are weighted score as follows; Always (A = 3) sometimes (S = 2) and Never (N = 1). The researcher ensured that copies of questionnaire were validated by 3 experts in Health and Safety Education. The reliability of the instrument used was established through a test-retest method and was found to be 0.67. While the hypotheses were tested using t-test and ANOVA set at .05 level of significance. To take decision on the hazards a criterion mean of 2.0 was used. This was determined by adding the response scores and dividing by the number of response categories. (3+2+1)/3 = 6/3 = 2.0. Those hazards whose mean scores were above 2.0 were regarded as major hazards while the ones below it were regarded as minor-hazards. The instrument was then distributed personally with the help of 3 trained Youth Corpers during the monthly meeting of the National Union of Professional Furniture makers and Carpenters held on 12th September, 2021. This meeting day gave the researcher the opportunity for oral interview with the workmen. However, a total of six hundred and forty-nine (649) copies of questionnaire were distributed out of which six hundred and fourteen (614) were returned and found useable for the study representing 94.6% return rate.

Table 1, shows that loss of sensation had the highest mean score of 2.74. Also hearing loss and distraction, muscle cramps, and increased thirst were also regarded as hazards with means of 2.28, 2.14, and 2.04 (>2.0) respectively while shortness of breath had a mean of 1.99 which is lower than the criterion mean. However, with the overall mean of 2.24, physical hazards were regarded by the respondents as major hazards.

Table 1: Responses On Physical Hazards of Furniture Makers (N = 614).

Research Question 2

What are the chemical hazards associated with furniture makers in Ughelli North L.G.A. of Delta State?

Table 2 shows that fire accidents was rated high with a mean score of 2.23 (>2.0). The table also revealed that hazards such as cough, burns, blisters between fingers and skin discolouration were rated 47low with means of 1.78 <2.0, 1.58J <2.01.89 and 1.64 <2.0 respectively. However, the overall mean of 1.82 shows that chemical hazards were regarded by the respondents as a minor hazards.

Table 2: Responses on Chemical Hazards Associated with Furniture Makers (N = 614)

Hypothesis 1 (Ho1)

There is no significance difference between gender and occupational hazards of furniture makers in Ughelli North L.G.A of Delta State

The Table 3 revealed that the cal-t value for physical hazards is 6.228> critical-t value of 1.96, 9.229>1.96 while chemical hazards is 9.291. Based on this result the hypothesis o no difference were thereof rejected.

Table 3: Summary of T-Test Analysis on the Influence of Gender on Physical and Chemical Hazards of Furniture Makers in Ughelli North L.G.A of Delta State

Hypotheses: 2 (Ho2)

There is no significant differences between age and occupational hazards of furniture makers in Ughelli North L.G.A of Delta State.

Table 4 shows also that here is significant difference physical hazards with cal f-value of 1302.62 greater than 3.00 critical f-value indicated that there is also a significant difference, chemical hazards with cal f-value of 913.31 greater than critical f-value of 3.00,

Table 4: Summary of ANOVA Analysis of the Significance of Age on Occupational Hazards of Furniture Makers in Ughelli North L.G.A. Of Delta State

BG = Between Groups; WG = Within Groups Df = 2

The results presented on Table 1 indicated that furniture makers experience the following health hazards - lots of noise and vibrations (2.28) generated by their machines, exposure to extreme temperature causing cramping of muscles (2.14), loss of sensation on fingers (2.74), and prolonged standing causing increased thirst (2.04). This study is in agreement with Achalu, [1] when he said that extensive use of vibrating tools can lead to Raynaud syndrome or become white and bloodless with loss of sensation and that prolonged noise can lead to noise induced hearing loss or deafness.

Subsequently, the result of the findings revealed that workmen always surfer fire accident (2.23). The findings is in correspond with Achalu, [6] who stressed that liquid or gas can loud to explosion hence fire accidents. This is in conformity with International Labour Organization, who reported that any occupation and working environment are sources of health hazards for both men and women, and that there is no great difference between men and women's biological response to physical or chemical hazards. The findings of the study from Table 4 revealed that there is a significant difference between age and occupational hazards of furniture makers, this support the report given by Health and Safety Executive (HSE), [9] that older workers are less accident prone in the work place.

This study was aimed at identifying occupational health hazards associated with furniture makers in Ughelli North L.G.A of Delta State. The sample size used for the study was the entire target population. However, a total of 614 questionnaire were found useable. The data collected from the field were analyzed using frequency, mean criterion mean ANOVA and t-test. The data analyzed brought out some useful information as regarding the various occupational health hazards of furniture makers to include physical and chemical hazards. The study revealed that furniture makers are not adequately informed of the dangers inherent in their job processes. The study also shows that there is a relationship between gender and hazards and also between age of workmen and hazards.

Recommendations

Based on this study, the following recommendations were made.

• There is need to enforce factory Act to protect the interest and health of the workers

• The management and staff of furniture workshop should be properly educated or trained on the need to jointly eliminate some of the health hazards associated with the profession. This should include regular seminars, workshops and lectures on health promotion in the work place in conjunction with the National Union of Professional Furniture Makers and Carpenters Ughelli North Chapter

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