Prevalence Of Occupational Health Hazards Among The Sand Mine Workers Of Odisha
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background of the study: Modern urbanisation has a constant increased demand for sand mining. The working nature and environmental stress involved in sand mining may expose the workers to multiple work-related disorders. The current study was undertaken to assess the occupational health hazards associated with sand mining.
Materials and Methods: The study includes 57 sand miners, those were randomly selected from the Kathajodi and Mahanadi riverbed in the Odisha district of Cuttack. On-site evaluation and self-reported health complaints were used to assess work-related health risks. A detailed questionnaire study on discomfort feeling was done by the modified Nordic questionnaire, which considering the information about work nature, job stress and discomfort feeling.
Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and discomfort was 93.34%, with the lower back, shoulder, and neck being the most involved. Sensory deficits at multiple sites and ear pain were found in 66.6% and 76.6% of people, respectively. Miners who carried loads for longer periods of time had a higher risk of MSDs than those who carried loads for shorter periods of time. There was a lack of health and safety measures such as personal protective devices and security schemes.
Conclusion: Sand mining, a physically demanding job in coastal Odisha, has a high prevalence of multiple work-related disorders and hazards. There was also a lack of health and safety measures.
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References
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