Stevedoring of buhos workers: Occupational hazards and management in Port Area, Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro City

• Main Author: Zaragoza, Sarah Jane Maaño
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2008
• Subjects: Stevedores > Cagayan De Oro > Philippines; Industrial safety; Occupational hazards; Environmental Public Health; Public Health
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3784; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/10622/viewcontent/CDTG004593_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study is descriptive in nature and has four main objectives: (i) determined the factors that influenced the type of tasks performed by stevedores, (ii) the occupational health hazards they encountered in their work, (iii) the working conditions that exacerbated workers exposure, and (iv) their management of health problems. A purposive sampling technique was employed in the selection of 72 male and female stevedores in the Port area, Cagayan de Oro City. The data were gathered using a survey instrument. The instrument was earlier constructed and was later modified with the use of pre-test results to address the objectives of the study. Respondents age ranged from16 to 61 years above, with minimal formal education, and with personal monthly income of P 5,000 and below. This study identifies stevedores who were involved in buhos work in the port. Their tasks involved sacks wrecking, sacks withdrawing, tying of cellophane bags, operating a hooper, sacks palletizing into the dunnage, sacks pulling from the hooper, sewing of sacks, and shoveling of products inside the ship. This study reveals that gender played important role in the appropriation of certain tasks: men performed tasks involving lifting, pushing and pulling of heavier products while women were involved to less arduous tasks involving hand and arm movements. Regardless of gender and tasks performed, male and female buhos workers were exposed to a set of common risky environmental conditions such (i) areas near the streets, (ii) slippery floors and surfaces, and moving heavy machineries, uncovered working spaces exposing workers to rain and direct sunlight. Stevedores managed their health hazards by resorting to a variety of self-care practices viz. using improvised protective gears at work, taking time off from work to recuperate, and taking over-the-counter drugs. In most cases, buhos workers solicited medical opinions from their immediate family, relatives and friends. Health seeking behavior involved visits to traditional healers like hilot as well. Workers rarely seek medical assistance from medical professionals due to limited access (e.g., port clinic) and financial constraints (e.g., government and private hospitals/ clinics In general, the study recommended that future research may be done among male stevedores who performed stevedoring tasks other than buhos activities such as stevedores involved with sacked products which are exported or imported in the port area (i.e. NFA rice, brown and white sugar, and salt). This will give comparison on the occurrence and management of occupational health hazards in the port area.