Fab labs and digital manufacturing in Cameroon - Minimising work accidents through JSA and AS/NZS 4360:2004 standard

Abstract

The democratization of industrial processes, fueled by the proliferation of fabrication laboratories (Fab Labs), is gradually paving the way for the accelerated development of the use of advanced manufacturing technologies in African countries. However, a comprehensive study that provides a holistic view of the contributions of the Fab Labs in Cameroon is lacking. Therefore, this paper presents a critical analysis of the state of Fab Labsdevelopment in Cameroon.A case study was used to analyze the occupational health and safety (OHS) risks at the laser cutting and milling operator workstations at XYZ Fabby using the Job Safety Analysis (JSA) to identify hazards and the AS/ NZS 4360:2004 standardto calculate the risk score.The results showed that the Fab Lab ecosystem in Cameroon consists of 10 active labs, with universities hosting 40% and private companies and social enterprises hosting 60%. Through their various activities, these Fab Labs collectively empower user communities and bridge the digital divide, enabling economic and industrial development through innovative projects and better access to cross-cutting science, technology and engineering practices. The results of the risk analysis showed that the risk level of each hazardous activity of the laser cutter operator workstation consisted of two levels, i.e., substantial with 75.0% and acceptable with 25.0%. Meanwhile, the risk level of the milling machine operator workstation consisted of three risk levels, i.e., acceptable with 69.2%, priority 3 with 7.7% and substantial with 23.1%. Recommendations were made to reduce or eliminate the effects of hazards associated with machine use, such as proper training and adherence to clear safety policies and procedures to be implemented.University-industry partnerships were recommended to strengthen and expand the number of Fab Labs in Cameroon, promote rapid prototyping, and foster innovation and entrepreneurship from universities.