Pesticide Use and Occupational Hazards among Farmers Working in Small Scale Tomatoes Farms in West Region of Cameroon, Sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Agriculture is undoubtedly the back-bone of Cameroonian economy and other economic activities thrive only if production in this sector is assured. It has been estimated that about 25 million agricultural workers worldwide experience unintentional pesticide poisoning yearly. Unfortunately, limited information exists about the health and safety of the farmers. The aim of this study was to describe the OHS conditions of farmers working on small scale tomato farms in Western Region of Cameroon. Materials and Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional research method was used to collect data from tomato farmers in May 2017 using a questionnaire by the research team. The data was analysed using Epi Info version 7. Results: A total of 104 tomato farmers from small-scale farms participated in the study. The analysis revealed that the occupation is male dominated. The training and use of Personal Protective Equipment’s (PPE) among farmers was rare and farmers were mostly exposed to chemical hazards. The farmers reported the following work-related health problems: skin irritation, backache, impairment of Central Nervous System (CNS), visual problems and respiratory difficulties. Conclusions: Findings confirmed that working in small-scale tomatoes farming is unsafe, and the occupational health and safety conditions are poor thus predisposing farmers to the risk of work-related health problems. Exposure to occupational hazards can be significantly reduced if the required PPE are efficiently used.