An Assessment of Occupational, Safety and Health Hazards on Livelihood Employment in Zanzibar: A Case Study of Small Scale Manual Stone Crushing at Micheweni Pemba, Tanzania

This study assessed the livelihood employment on occupational, health and safety hazards: environmental condition, causes and the effects of occupational hazards in livelihood employment taking Michewni District in Pemba Island as the case study. The methodology adopted was descriptive case study with mixed approach. Secondary data, observation and face-to-face interview were used for data collection techniques while structured questionnaire was a major data colleting instrument. The study revealed that workers are affected from major occupational safety and health hazards, which include physical, chemical, ergonomic and psycho-social hazards. Physical hazards results injury, neck ache and general body pain, chemical hazards causes cough related diseases. Ergonomic hazards contributed mainly to equipment used, repetitive movement, manual work and posture. Psychosocial hazards stress and fatigue mentioned to large extent and long term consequences (impact) of occupational hazards to manual stone crushing. The study recommends on establishment of occupational health and safety policy which is sensitive to both formal and informal sector, supervising working environment in self employment, proper training on occupational safety and healthy, livelihood workers should form producers groups for collective effort in fighting against challenges and further survey and research should be conducted to depict the status of occupational hazards in the livelihood sector and the result to be communicated to relevant stake holders including the workers themselves