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Health Hazards in Substandard Computer Centres

F.C. Ezetoha, A.O. Nwokeke, L. C. Ohaneme, I.Onyemaobim

This paper is based on the study conducted in 2013 to assess the health hazards in substandard computer centres in Nigeria tertiary institution environment. The objective of this study was to investigate the extent of simultaneous occurance of computer vision syndrome, repititive strain injury, musculoskeletal disorder, stress, respiratory tract, skin problem and hearing disorder among workers in the substandard computer centres. The second objective was to investigate the association between duration of work per day and these health disorders. A total of 180 workers were involved in the study of whom 56.67% where females and 43.33% were males. The interviewed workers had been using computers and other machines for 2 and more hours a day and had worked in the cumputer centres for minimum of 4 years. Self administered questionaire was used as an instrument in this field survey study.The findings confirmed that computer vision syndrome, Repititive strain injury, musculoskeletal disorder, stress, hearing, respiratory tract, and skin problems occur simultaneously among workers in substandard computer centers. Workers who use computer daily for more than four hours in the computer centers are more likely subjected to the risks of all these seven health disorders. The Authors suggested some preventive measures and they urged the owners of these substandard computer centres, workers and the government of Nigeria and some other developing contries opts to adapt their practiability