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VOLUME 6 , ISSUE 4 ( October-December, 2020 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Evaluation of Occupational Health among Brick Factory Workers

Jinsa Nizam, Shashikala Manjunath, GS Vidya, Chandrakala

Keywords : Brick kiln, Occupation safety, Respiratory complications

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10045-00158

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 30-11-2021

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2020; The Author(s).


Abstract

Introduction: Brick-kiln workers suffer from high morbidity because of their work. This demands urgent attention to the health and safety of brick-kiln workers. Very limited data on the occupational health status of brick-kiln workers are available in Karnataka. The study was primarily focused on detecting the evidence regarding the occupational hazards among brick factory workers and designing and developing better strategies for improving the working conditions of workers engaged in kilns. Materials and methods: A total of 124 workers with at least a year of experience were included in the study. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured pretested questionnaire. The information on the demography, their personal habits such as smoking, alcohol consumption, occupational exposure history, and health-seeking behavior. Specific questions/symptoms were asked on the effects of exposure to dust and other particles such as eye irritation, upper respiratory tract irritation, headache, and excessive fatigue. They were subjected to general physical examination and the basic parameters of height, weight, and blood pressure were recorded. Results: Forty percent of workers reported health-related problems, out of which 26% of them were referred to higher centers for further check-up and treatment. Thirty-four percent were having multiple joint pains, low backache, and knee pain. Thirty-two percent complained of rhinitis-like symptoms mainly due exposure to cement and other dust particles due to occupational exposure. The rest of the workers complained of bilateral leg pain, gastric irritation, chest pain on exertion, visual disturbances, and difficulty in hearing. Conclusion: Brick kilns need a well-designed comprehensive plan and the necessary resources to prevent work-related illnesses and health risks. This strategy can improve the working conditions and also the productivity of the workers.


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