Identification of Risks among Workers Exposed to Occupational Health Hazards in view of Developing an Information Booklet on Awareness and its Prevention in a Selected Steel Industry of Odisha

Abstract

Background: Occupational health hazards are leading cause of deaths and diseases among industrial worker worldwide. The health hazards affect the industrial worker in many ways – physical damage to death. Methods: A descriptive survey design with quantitative approach was undertaken to identify the risks among workers exposed to occupational health hazards in view of developing an information booklet on awareness and its prevention in a selected steel industry of Odisha, with the objectives to identify the risks of occupational health hazards and their association between the demographic variables among the workers. 215 workers were selected by purposive sampling technique and data was collected through structured interview schedule. Results: Findings of the study reveals that the highest percentage (74.88%) of workers were at high risk. 24.65% were in moderate risk and the rest 0.47% were low risk to occupational health hazards. Among the areas of occupational health hazards the highest 84% were exposed to psychological hazards and the lowest 61% were exposed to biological hazards and the rest 80.17%, 72.85%, 71.57%, and 68.2% were exposed to ergonomic hazards, mechanical hazards, physical hazards and chemical hazards respectively. From the above findings it was established that majority of workers are in high risk to occupational health hazards. There was significant association found between occupational health hazards and the demographic variables with professional or vocational education and monthly income (p = <0.05). But no significant association was found to other demographic variables i.e. age, gender, educational qualification, marital status, work experience and personal habits. Conclusion: Thus steel industrial workers need educational programs on awareness to prevent occupational health hazards. So the developed information booklet based on awareness and prevention on occupational health hazards by the researcher will be efficacious in risks reduction of the workers.