Occupational Health Hazards among Workers in Ceramic Factories

Abstract

Background: Ceramic industry had a variety of biological, chemical, physical, an ergonomic and psychological hazard that cause dangers to workers during work. The aim of the study was to assess the occupational health hazards among workers in Ceramic Factories. Research Design: A descriptive research design was utilized to conduct this study. Setting: This study was conducted at Ceramic Factory at Queisna City, Menoufia Governorate. This is the only Factory found in Menoufia Governorate. The Sample: Systematic random sample was used in this study for worker in Ceramic Factory. The study sample constituted 150 workers from the total 1400 workers in the Factory. Tools: Two tools were used I): An interviewing questionnaire which consisted of three parts to assess workers' socio demographic characteristics, work experience, health problem of workers and knowledge about occupational health hazards and II): Observational checklist which consisted of two parts to assess and observe the characteristics of the work environment safety and sanitation condition, and the workers' practices regarding prevention of occupational health hazards. Results: The age of 40.7% of studied workers was 30 years and more with mean age 32.54 ± 8.47 years. As past medical history, 53.3% of them had allergic rhinitis and sinusitis and 74.7% of them had chronic cough as present medical history. In addition, 19.3%of them had good total knowledge scores related to occupational health hazards, 82.7% of studied workers had satisfactory practices regarding prevention of occupational health hazard. Conclusion: Less than three quarters of studied workers had average total knowledge and the majority had satisfactory practices regarding prevention of occupational health hazard. There was no statistically significant relation between the studied ceramic workers' total knowledge and their total practices regarding occupational health hazards. Recommendations: Develop and implement training program for ceramic workers to improve their knowledge and practices toward occupational health hazards.