Awareness of workplace hazards and preventive measures among sandstone mineworkers in Rajasthan, India: A cross-sectional study

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess awareness of workplace hazards and personal protective equipments (PPEs) among mineworkers employed in a sandstone quarry in Rajasthan, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 218 miners was conducted in Karauli, Rajasthan, India. We u...

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Main Author: Absar Ahmad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Edizioni FS 2017-03-01
Series:Journal of Health and Social Sciences
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Online Access:http://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/jhhs21_69-82.pdf
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author Absar Ahmad
author_facet Absar Ahmad
author_sort Absar Ahmad
collection DOAJ
description Objective: The aim of this study was to assess awareness of workplace hazards and personal protective equipments (PPEs) among mineworkers employed in a sandstone quarry in Rajasthan, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 218 miners was conducted in Karauli, Rajasthan, India. We used a standardized semi-structured questionnaire that was administered to each subject by face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics and Pearson chi-square test were used to show frequency distributions and associations between variables. Results: Almost all respondents were aware of at least one hazard in mining occupation (93.6%), but no of them was trained by a recent (within 1 year) health and safety training course. However, mineworkers recognized only the risk of injury (74.3%) and exposure to crystalline silica dust (40.4%). A high percentage of mineworkers were aware of PPEs (87.6%), but an only 16.5% of them used PPEs during their employment. The only PPEs mentioned by mineworkers was the dust protective mask. Occurrence of at least one occupational injury during work-life was associated with use of dust masks, while work-related diseases were associated with a low level of education, underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), and current smoking. Awareness of workplace hazards was associated with age less than 60, young age of starting work in mines (< 30 years), hours work per day (< 8 hr), and no availability of drinking water facility. Failure to use PPEs at work was statistically significant associated with belonging to scheduled castes or scheduled tribes, lower distance from home to workplace (1‒3 Km), hours work per day (< 8 hr), and no availability of safe drinking water. Discussion and Conclusion: In Rajasthan, India, there is a certain level of awareness about workplace hazards but usage of PPEs by sandstone mineworkers is very low. Policy makers should implement health and safety training programmes to promote use of PPEs among mine workers.
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spelling doaj-art-a58396976e8b4b16a815beaaa738b24a2025-01-18T18:20:30ZengEdizioni FSJournal of Health and Social Sciences2499-22402499-58862017-03-0121698210.19204/2017/wrns6Awareness of workplace hazards and preventive measures among sandstone mineworkers in Rajasthan, India: A cross-sectional studyAbsar Ahmad0Giri Institute of Development Studies, Lucknow, IndiaObjective: The aim of this study was to assess awareness of workplace hazards and personal protective equipments (PPEs) among mineworkers employed in a sandstone quarry in Rajasthan, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 218 miners was conducted in Karauli, Rajasthan, India. We used a standardized semi-structured questionnaire that was administered to each subject by face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics and Pearson chi-square test were used to show frequency distributions and associations between variables. Results: Almost all respondents were aware of at least one hazard in mining occupation (93.6%), but no of them was trained by a recent (within 1 year) health and safety training course. However, mineworkers recognized only the risk of injury (74.3%) and exposure to crystalline silica dust (40.4%). A high percentage of mineworkers were aware of PPEs (87.6%), but an only 16.5% of them used PPEs during their employment. The only PPEs mentioned by mineworkers was the dust protective mask. Occurrence of at least one occupational injury during work-life was associated with use of dust masks, while work-related diseases were associated with a low level of education, underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), and current smoking. Awareness of workplace hazards was associated with age less than 60, young age of starting work in mines (< 30 years), hours work per day (< 8 hr), and no availability of drinking water facility. Failure to use PPEs at work was statistically significant associated with belonging to scheduled castes or scheduled tribes, lower distance from home to workplace (1‒3 Km), hours work per day (< 8 hr), and no availability of safe drinking water. Discussion and Conclusion: In Rajasthan, India, there is a certain level of awareness about workplace hazards but usage of PPEs by sandstone mineworkers is very low. Policy makers should implement health and safety training programmes to promote use of PPEs among mine workers.http://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/jhhs21_69-82.pdfIndia; miners; awareness; personal protective equipment; occupational injuries; occupational diseases.Indiaminersawarenesspersonal protective equipmentoccupational injuriesoccupational diseases
spellingShingle Absar Ahmad
Awareness of workplace hazards and preventive measures among sandstone mineworkers in Rajasthan, India: A cross-sectional study
Journal of Health and Social Sciences
India; miners; awareness; personal protective equipment; occupational injuries; occupational diseases.
India
miners
awareness
personal protective equipment
occupational injuries
occupational diseases
title Awareness of workplace hazards and preventive measures among sandstone mineworkers in Rajasthan, India: A cross-sectional study
title_full Awareness of workplace hazards and preventive measures among sandstone mineworkers in Rajasthan, India: A cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Awareness of workplace hazards and preventive measures among sandstone mineworkers in Rajasthan, India: A cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Awareness of workplace hazards and preventive measures among sandstone mineworkers in Rajasthan, India: A cross-sectional study
title_short Awareness of workplace hazards and preventive measures among sandstone mineworkers in Rajasthan, India: A cross-sectional study
title_sort awareness of workplace hazards and preventive measures among sandstone mineworkers in rajasthan india a cross sectional study
topic India; miners; awareness; personal protective equipment; occupational injuries; occupational diseases.
India
miners
awareness
personal protective equipment
occupational injuries
occupational diseases
url http://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/jhhs21_69-82.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT absarahmad awarenessofworkplacehazardsandpreventivemeasuresamongsandstonemineworkersinrajasthanindiaacrosssectionalstudy