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A study on morbidity among automobile service and repair workers in an urban area of South India
- Source :
- Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
- Publication Year :
- 2014
- Publisher :
- Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, 2014.
-
Abstract
- Introduction: Service sector in Indian industrial growth has obtained significant numbers. Automobile service industry is one of the largest in the world with a majority of the workers in unorganized sector of the industry. This study was carried out among auto service industry workers in Vellore urban area to assess possible occupation related morbidity. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observation study was carried out among 106 automobile repair shop workers. Results: Half (47%) suffered work related stress, 32 (30.2%) reported exposure to dust, 81 (76%) to heat, and 50 (17%) to hazardous chemicals and heavy metals. More than 90% reported over exposure to petroleum products. A third reported cough for more than 2 weeks, more than a quarter reported gastrointestinal symptoms associated with work. Half of them reported musculoskeletal complaints associated with work with a quarter reporting un-intentional work place injuries. A tenth of them were found to have reduced pulmonary function on testing and nearly half had impaired sensory functions in peripheries. Reduced pulmonary function was found to be significantly associated with heavy metal exposure (P = 0.001). Peripheral neuropathy was significantly associated with years of occupation (P = 0.001), exposure to petroleum products (P = 0.03) and exposure to heavy metals (P = 0.018). Discussion: Half of the workers were unaware of health problems associated with their occupational exposures and thereby the use of personal protection is abysmally low. A very high proportion of workers had symptoms of cough, breathlessness, abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort and muscle aches. Almost a quarter of the workers had un-intentional occupational injuries in the last 6 months. Though they work in a high-risk environment with chances of fire hazard, falls and chemical exposures, none of the workshops had fire-extinguishers, first aid kits or any such safety devices.
- Subjects :
- Abdominal pain
Occupational health
business.industry
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Poison control
Human factors and ergonomics
morbidity
Suicide prevention
Occupational safety and health
Pulmonary function testing
Environmental health
Injury prevention
medicine
Original Article
automobile workers
personal protection equipment
medicine.symptom
business
First aid
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19983670 and 09732284
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....cb803572facc263c5526a62819ff4e7d