Prevalence of Occupational Accidents and Health Impacts among Fresh Latex Purchasers in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and patterns of occupational accidents, as well as factors associated with accident occurrence and severity among fresh latex purchasers in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. A cross-sectional study design was employed. Samples consisted of 60 fresh latex purchasing establishments, with a total of 120 participants selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with verified content validity and analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. The results revealed that 48.3% of participants had experienced occupational accidents within the past 12 months. Most incidents occurred once (48.3%). The most common types of accidents included slips and falls in latex handling areas (51.7%), injuries from heavy lifting (44.8%), and road traffic accidents (41.4%). Most of the accidents were of mild severity (44.8%), and the primary cause was carelessness (48.3%). Statistical analysis indicated that age was significantly associated with accident occurrence (p=0.040), with younger workers being at higher risk. Work experience was significantly negatively associated with both accident occurrence (p=0.004) and accident severity (p=0.017), with less experienced workers being more likely to experience accidents and have more severe outcomes. Additionally, pre-operational inspection of equipment and vehicles was significantly associated with accident occurrence (p<0.001). Therefore, safety measures should be promoted among young workers and those with limited work experience through workshops, demonstrations of proper equipment use, and supervision of personal protective equipment (PPE) use to reduce the risk and severity of occupational accidents.