Background Work in the wood industry is often associated with exposure to wood dust and formaldehyde. The aims of this study were to describe the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) concerning chemical health hazards among particleboard workers and to compare the KAP among temporary and permanent workers. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used to collect data by structured questionnaires in two particleboard factories in Ethiopia. A total of 159 workers and 13 management personnel participated in this study. Both closed-ended and open-ended questions were included in the interviews. Chi-square tests, T tests and correlation analyses were used for categorical and continuous data. Total knowledge score (range 0–8) was calculated as the sum score of 8 items weighing one point each. Multiple linear regression was applied to estimate the impact of employment status on total knowledge score adjusted for level of education. Content analysis was applied to analyse collected data from open-ended questions. Results The mean age of the respondents was 28 ( SD = 6) years and on average they had 3.7 [3] years of service. The permanent workers were older than the temporary workers (29 vs 26 years, p = 0.001), and a considerably high fraction of the permanent workers had vocational education (90%) compared to the temporary workers (11%). Permanent workers had higher proportion of response on knowledge of 10 of 12 topics regarding chemical hazards and attitudes on 6 of 11 of these topics than temporary workers. Permanent workers had higher knowledge scores (3.7) compared to temporary workers (1.3) ( p < 0.001), also after adjusting for education ( p = 0.011). Permanent workers were provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) while temporary workers were not. The qualitative data helps to understand the workers and administrative personnel attitude and thinking regarding chemical hazards and PPE. Conclusions The findings revealed that permanent workers have higher proportion of positive response on knowledge and attitude towards chemical health hazards than temporary workers. However, practice in use of PPE depended on access to PPE. Few temporary workers were provided with PPE. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-6807-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Work in the wood industry might be associated with respiratory health problems. The production of particleboard used for furniture making and construction is increasing in many countries, and cause dust, endotoxin and formaldehyde exposure of the workers. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and to measure lung function among Ethiopian particleboard workers using Eucalyptus trees as the raw material. In total 147 workers, 74 from particleboard production and 73 controls, participated in the study. Mean wood dust in the particleboard factories was measured to be above recommended limit values. Particleboard workers had a mean age of 28 years and the controls were 25 years. They had been working for 4 and 2 years, respectively. Lung function test was done using spirometry following American Thoracic Society (ATS) recommendations. Respiratory symptoms were collected using a standard questionnaire of ATS. Particleboard workers had higher prevalence of wheezing, cough, cough with sputum production, phlegm, and shortness of breath compared to controls. Lung function status was similar in the two groups. The symptoms might be related to the work in the factories. Longitudinal studies are recommended to explore the chronic impact of work in particleboard factories on respiratory health.

Background: In its nature, solid waste management is a labour intensive industry, which exposes workers to numerous occupational hazards. This study was aimed to investigate the magnitude of days away from work injuries and associated factors among organized waste collectors in Mekelle city, Northern Ethiopia. Method: A questionnaire and observation checklist based cross-sectional study design was employed from June 1 to 30, 2017. Data was analysed using SPSS for windows 20.0. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression methods were used to describe the study population and assess the association between dependent and independent variables, respectively. Result: From the total of 279 waste collectors involved as a study participant, ten percent(10%) of them reported at least one day away from work injuries during the last twelve months. Female were 96% less likely to be injured as compared to male (AOR = 0.04, 95%CI: 0.008 -0.204). Being married is 87% less likely to be injured as compared to being a single (AOR = 0.130 95% CI: 0.027-0.621). The odds of injury were 4.5 times higher among those who do not use personal protective equipment as compared to their counterparts (AOR = 4.514 95%CI: 1.684-12.095). Waste collectors, who had less than 1000 Birr income, were 3 times more likely to be injured than waste collectors who had greater than 1001 Birr per month income (AOR = 3.008 95%CI: 1.081 - 8.371.Conclusion: Days away from work injury among waste collectors is a public health problem and has an impact on the economic and social well-being of workers. Therefore, strengthening the provision of personal protective devices and insuring its utilization is highly recommended.

Objectives: Eucalyptus trees are used in the particleboard wood industry in Ethiopia. Dust and chemicals from this production may cause respiratory health problems, but the exposure levels have not been studied previously. The aim of this study was to assess workers' exposure to inhalable dust, endotoxin, and formaldehyde in the two largest particleboard factories in Ethiopia, and compare the results with occupational exposure limits. Methods: A total of 152 inhalable dust and endotoxin samples were collected using a conductive plastic inhalable conical sampler (CIS), in addition to 45 formaldehyde samples using Dräger tubes for collection in two particleboard factories in Ethiopia. Linear mixed models were used to identify exposure determinants. Results: The geometric mean (GM) of inhalable dust exposure was 4.66 mg/m 3 and 93% of the samples were above the threshold limit value of 1 mg/ m 3 . For endotoxin exposure GM was 62.2 EU/m 3 , and 41% of samples were above the recommended occupational limit value of 90 EU/m 3 . Formaldehyde was added in a blending section of the production line, and the formaldehyde level was highest here (3.5 ppm). The level decreased at the workstations following blending, and 13% of the formaldehyde samples were above the peak exposure limit value of 1.0 ppm. Conclusions: The findings revealed exposure levels higher than recommended for inhalable dust, endotoxin, and formaldehyde in the particleboard factories. A reduction in dust, endotoxin, and formaldehyde exposure levels in these workplaces is recommended. We also recommend provision of proper personal protective equipment.