ISSN : 2663-2187

Working Conditions of Slaughterhousesand Meat Safety Practices ofSlaughterhouse Workers in Mymensingh District, Bangladesh

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Solama Akter Shanta, Shimul Mazumdar, Kanak Chandra Rudra, Mst. Tahomina Akter, M. Ariful Islam
» doi: 10.48047/AFJBS.6.12.2024.2984-2991

Abstract

Background: The nature of public and open slaughterhouses has a tendency toward small markets, and information about these slaughtering points is very limited in Bangladesh.Personal hygiene and inadequate facilities at slaughterhouses can result in contamination of meat and occupational health hazards for workers. Objective: The objectives of this study were to investigate the present status of working conditions in slaughterhouses and to assess the physical facilities and hygienic practices of slaughterhouse workers in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. Methodology: A total of 212 workers from 78 slaughter houses were included in the study area. The present study was carried out on-spot direct observation of slaughter house condition using a set check-list relating to infrastructure and facilities, and a standard questionnaire was used to gather data on physical facilities of slaughtering points and data on worker’s hygienic practices. Data were collected through workers interview and personal observations. The frequency and percentage of the response were described. Results: The survey results and personal observation indicated that the physical facilities and infrastructure had very poor and sanitary practices were not satisfactory in most of the slaughtering points. The slaughterhouse was cramped, with no separate spaces for the lairage, bleeding, or evisceration departments, nor freezers or chambers for collecting and freezing waste. There were no hygienic maintenance inspections performed on buildings, facilities, or carcasses. Solid waste disposal had totally filled the drainage systems, even though 69.23% of slaughterhouses had them. For the disposal of animal waste, 12.84% of slaughterhouses had disposal pits. In 94.87% of slaughterhouses, water was available, but it was never used to the required degree, leaving the region unsatisfactorily dirty. All the slaughterhouse workers were male, and they were neglected to use nose masks and other personal protective equipment. Furthermore, only 2.5 percent of employees wore gumboots without hand gloves. The cleaning procedure wasn't very successful; 88.21% of employees only used plain water to wash their hands. The finding that 11.53% of slaughterhouses have easy access to dogs and cats is concerning since it could lead to meat contamination and the spread of zoonotic illnesses. But workers (97.17%) were not concerned with the zoonotic diseases. Conclusion: This study contributes to understand the current situation in the slaughter houses of Mymensingh division in Bangladesh which does not in line with the recommendations of the “Animal Slaughter and Meat Inspection Act 2011 of Bangladesh”. Current facilities and practices may increase occupational exposure to disease or injury and contaminated meat may enter the customer market. Veterinary inspection and training program should be ensured to workers. As it was our preliminary attempt, thus further exclusive surveillance is needed to assess the scenario of nationwide slaughterhouses.

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