Occupational Health Hazards, Work Behaviors, Work-Related Illness and Injury Among Informal Workforce: A Case of Longan Peeling Group
Keywords:
Occupational health hazards, Work-related illness and injury, Work behaviors, Informal workforceAbstract
Substandard and dangerous working condition is a significant occupational health problem among informal workforce. The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine occupational health hazards, work-related illnesses and injuries, and work behaviors among 135 informal workforces of Longan peeling workers, chosen purposively in Banthi district, Lamphun province. Data were collected using an interview-form which had been confirmed quality both content validity and reliability test. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
The results revealed that obvious occupational health hazards in working environment were ergonomic factors, prolonged sitting and standing (96.30%) and physical factor, hot weather at workplace (82.20%). A significant of working condition was working with sharp equipment (91.10%). Work-related illnesses commonly found was musculoskeletal pain which were hand/wrist pain (64.40%) and leg/knee pain (56.30%); while work-related injury during the past three months was found only one-fourth which was superficial wound. Regarding work behaviors, almost Longan peeling workers cleaned their equipment and working area after use. Further, approximately one-half of the sample used rubber gloves regularly.
These findings provide a significant foundation for occupational health and safety team to formulize effective occupational risk reduction program. This is particularly ergonomics program safety at work including risk communication leading to quality of work life among Longan peeling workers.
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