Magnitude and Risk Factors of Injuries in a Glass Bottle Manufacturing Plant

Abstract

Magnitude and Risk Factors of Injuries in a Glass Bottle Manufacturing Plant: Joy Bazroy et al. Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, India—A study was conducted in a glass bottle manufacturing plant in Pondicherry, India, to assess the magnitude and identify the risk factors of work‐related injuries between January and December 1998. Three hundred and seventyseven injuries were reported among 341 permanent workers followed up for one year (incidence=1,105.5/ 1,000 workers/yr). A higher load of injuries was noted in the first half of the night shifts and the second half of the other three shifts. Injuries were higher in the second half of the week and during the first half of the year. Hands and wrists were the most common sites of injury (40.6%), whereas the eye, foot, ankles and other body parts had 30%, 14.6%, 10.6% and 4.2% of injuries respectively. The commonest type of injury was cuts and lacerations (50.1%); injuries to the eye (due to foreign bodies, chemicals and welding sparks) accounted for 30%, sprains 8% and burns 7.1% of the injuries. A cohort of 75 workers chosen from the 341 permanent workers were followed up for the one year for identification of risk factors. Significant risk factors were age (less than 30 yr) and experience (less than 2 yr). Technical factors responsible for injury were a hazardous worksite in 37 (38.5%) cases, inadequate protection with safety wear in 32 (33%) cases and proximity to machines in 14 (14.6%) cases. Human factors identified were non‐use of protective wear in 43 (45%), overconfidence in 18 (18.7%) and timing error while working with machines in 11 (11.4%) episodes.

Correlates of Occupational Injuries for Various Jobs in Railway Workers: A Case‐Control Study

“…This observation was also reported by other investigators 7,8,[21][22][23] . Many workers begin working at an early age and often without safety training.…”

“…In France, the railway firm employs 184,000 workers, and its annual incidence rate of occupational injuries with sick leave is also about 4%. Preventive measures are therefore necessary to reduce the injuries, and they should concern work conditions [5][6][7] , but also training 8) , living conditions (smoking [8][9][10][11][12] , alcohol use [11][12][13][14] , physical activities 12,15) , body weight 16,17) , sleep disorders 16,18,19) , health status and disabilities 7,20) , and other risk factors such as young age 7,8,[21][22][23] , job knowledge and experience 8,21,24) , risk perception, personality and behavior [25][26][27] ). But these risk factors have been identified in few specific populations only, and it is difficult to generalize and apply the findings to other populations.…”

Spectrum of hand injuries and their management at a tertiary care hospital using the hand injury scoring system

“…They found that the commonest types of injuries were cuts and lacerations (50.1%). 11 In this study we found that 66.74% of the total hand injuries were crush injuries and also the dominant mode of injury in both genders.…”

Relationships of Working Conditions and Individual Characteristics to Occupational Injuries: A Case‐Control Study in Coal Miners

“…Gauchard et al also found no difference for injuries due to falls 14) . Chau et al, Bazroy et al, and Ghosh et al, showed that younger subjects had a higher risk 11,18,39) . Young age is associated to lack of knowledge, lack of experience and contributes to risk taking behavior; this hypothesis would explain why the causes of injuries differed according to the age group 12) .…”

“…Individual characteristics of workers have been little investigated. Certain personal and impersonal factors were identified as risk factors in some industries: petrochemical industries 10) , construction industries [11][12][13] , railway firms 14) , nuclear processing plants 15) , transport safety 16,17) , glass bottle manufacturing plants 18) , and in the general population [19][20][21] . Some authors have emphasized the roles of poor perception of working conditions 10,22) , poor management and supervision 8,23) , and poor safety environment 20,24) , risk taking behavior 15,25,26) , emotional instability 4,27,28) , negative job involvement 29,30) , job dissatisfaction 10,28,31) and job stress 10,27,32) .…”