Descriptive Study of Occupational Risks in the Woodworking Industry

Cameroon, a developing country, possesses significant forest resources. Despite these resources, in 2010, 70% of the working-age population was underemployed overall. From November 2015 to May 2016, we conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study with an analytical component in the Central Region. We surveyed 168 workers and 48 woodworking workshops. Twenty-eight (28) occupational hazards were identified, including: access to running tools [36 (75%)], unexpected restarting of a machine after a power outage [24 (50%)], the presence of wood dust in the air [45 (93.75%)], the use of glue, varnish, and paint [39 (81.25%)]. The identified occupational hazards were linked to: work tools (machines), the workshop's status (formal or informal sector), workers' professional skills, the tasks workers must perform, and the environment in which the woodworking workshop is located.