Improving Occupational Health of Indian Construction Workers: A Biomechanical Evaluation Approach

Author(s):  
Ratri Parida ◽  
Sagar Sarkar ◽  
Pradip Kumar Ray
Author(s):  
Hui Liu ◽  
Jie Li ◽  
Hongyang Li ◽  
He Li ◽  
Peng Mao ◽  
...  

To reduce harm caused by occupational health risks of construction workers exposed to working environments, especially those for interior decoration, it is crucial for them to actively recognize and prevent these risks. Therefore, how to improve their occupational health risks perception and regulate their coping behaviors should be of great concern. However, most prior studies target construction worker safety, and little research focuses on risk analysis from the psychological level of workers. Hence, construction workers’ occupational health risk perception level and coping behavior level in Nanjing and the influencing factors were analyzed through statistical analysis with 341 valid questionnaires. Bootstrapping was applied to test the mediating effects of risk perception on the proposed factors and coping behaviors. This study revealed that construction workers have a high-level of occupational health risk perception, yet low-level coping behavior. Gender, age, education level, and unit qualification cause differences in individual risk perception level. Personal knowledge and group effects significantly affect the level of risk perception, which subsequently affect coping behavior. Education level, monthly income, and personal knowledge influence the coping behavior through risk perception. Recommendations were put forward for risk perception and coping behavior improvement from the perspectives of construction workers themselves, enterprises, and governments. This study sheds new light for research areas of occupational health and risk management and provides beneficial practice for improving construction workers’ responses to occupational health risks.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-320
Author(s):  
Umesh C. Ojha ◽  
Sonam Spalgais ◽  
Ashish Ranjan ◽  
Omkar K. Choudhari

Relevance . With growing economy and flourishing construction industries the comorbidities among construction workers are also raised. They are exposed to various dust, fumes, noxious gases and vapours making them susceptible to chronic airway diseases like Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the respiratory health status of construction workers in an unorganised sector. Materials and Methods . The data collected from National Capital of Delhi region in an unorganised sector of construction workers by using a Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire by the Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental research, Basaidarapur, Delhi, India. All the participant response was noted and the answers were evaluated to see respiratory health status of workers. Total 200 workers were evaluated. Total 182 males and 18 female participated in the study. Results and Discussion . 25% of workers reported poor health at the time of the survey, while only 4% of workers considered their health to be very good. Among the main complaints were indicated: cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, chest infections, attacks of wheezing. The overall mean of Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire core was 33.55. It increases with the working period in the construction field with 21.6% for 10years and 49.1 for 30years experienced workers, while workers with 11 to 20 years of experience, the score was 28.4. The Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire score was 35.1 in 21-30 years of experienced construction workers. Conclusion . As a result of the study, construction workers are found to be at high risk of various respiratory diseases and related disabilities. Participants in this study did not receive any treatment for respiratory problems at any clinic. This means the importance of occupational health education and the use of personal protective equipment and safe working conditions for construction workers.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viswanadham Silaparasetti ◽  
G.V.R. Srinivasarao ◽  
Firdouse Rahman Khan

Purpose: The study aims to examine and evaluate the impact of five Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) factors, i.e., Commitment of management, Communication, Training & Education, Health Care and Policies in predicting construction workers’ behavior in construction projects of Oman.Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire was designed, and data was collectedon arandom sampling basis. Two hundred and fifty-twosamples were collected, and the data was analyzed using Smart PLS -Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique.Findings: The study shows thatCommitment of management, Communication, and Training &Educationplays a pivotal role in inspiring the construction workers to improve their perception towards Health and Safety behavior. These factors help in theclear-cut understanding of safety issues and aid in skills development and increase capabilities. All the factors influence the sustainable positive OHS results. Research limitations/Implications: The present study covers only the construction workers. Entire stakeholdersinvolved in construction project (contractors, clients, and consultants) canbe includedfor further studies. Social Implications: The study will help to improve the Health and Safety practices in the construction industry and expected to bring in more awareness among workers, which will inevitably bring in a culture of safe behavior. The ultimate result will be asubstantial reduction or elimination in safety-relatedincidents, which helps all the stakeholders (Contractors, Clients and Consultants).Originality/Value: Only a very few have examined the impact of Occupational Health and Safety factors on the workers’ behavior, and usage of SmartPLS is a novel idea, and it is a first-hand study of its kind.


Author(s):  
Anugrah Visar Rahman ◽  
Endang Dwiyanti

Introduction: PT. Kreasindo Wira Darma is an electrical construction company offering substation and electrical transmission installation in Indonesia. The common basic cause of work accident is unsafe behaviour and unsafe condition. This research aimed to analyze the safe behaviour of construction workers at Blimbing substation using behaviour-based safety approach and Antencendent, Behaviour, Consequence (ABC) theory. Method: This research was an observational descriptive study using cross-sectional design. The data were collected using questionnaire, observation, and interview. There were a total of 20 construction workers at PT. Kreasindo Wira Darma which became the respondents for this study, and total population was used as the samples. This study’s variables include antencendent and consequence as independent variables and worker’s safe behaviour as the dependent variable. Results: most of construction workers had good knowledge by 90%, good awareness by 90%, all workers have good motivation and fulfilled need for safety by 100%, 18 workers said that there were Occupational Health Safety (OHS) rules in effect at the company by 90%, and workers said that they have received rewards/praises and punishments by 95%. Results also showed that most cosntruction workers have applied safe behaviour at the workplace. Conclusion: Workers will consistently practice safe behaviour when they are equipped with knowledge, awareness, good motivation, compliance with Occupational Health Safety (OHS) rules, and are given reward and punishment.             Keywords: behavior-based safety, electrical construction, safe behaviour


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Sarwar Mir

Occupational risks have been classed as the tenth leading cause of morbidity and mortality and occupational skin diseases are important problem in the construction industries. Aim: The aim of this study is to understand the occupational health problems of construction workers engaged at large construction site in Kashmir. Materials and methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at a large scale construction site of a cement factory on outskirts of Srinagar.All workers (N=200) were enrolled as study subjects. Data was collected by the team consisting of investigators, doctors and social worker using a pre tested validated structured preformed. Result: Among 200 workers only 28.0% used protective measure and 70% had suffered with at least one form of disease. Among them different diseases were found in following percentages i.e. respiratory problems (45.7%), musculo-skelekal problems (32.8%), Dermatitis (78.6%), burn/scald (6.6%) and accidental injury (28.6%). Conclusion: Measures are needed to improve the work environment of construction workers by ensuring availability of protective gears, sanitation facilities at the sites along with an accessible, accountable occupational health services


Author(s):  
Viswanadham Silaparasetti ◽  
G V. R. Srinivasarao ◽  
Firdouse Rahman Khan

PURPOSEThis paper critically analyzes and assesses the various factors of occupational health and safety (OHS), and elucidate the factors affecting construction workers’ behavior in different construction projects of Oman. It aims to create Occupational Health and Safety awareness in construction workers working for Social Entrepreneurs in Oman.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACHTwo hundred and fifty-two construction workers from various projects were selected based on a simple random sampling basis, and the data was collected through a well-defined questionnaire.FINDINGSThe study shows that workers favor communication in the improvement of workers’ behavior in the industrial and infrastructure construction projects.Education and training help in capacity building and skills development and contributes towards sustainable positive OHS result in petrochemical construction projects. Management commitment plays a major part to maintain a sustained hazard free environment in building construction projects. The study also shows that the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) factors –OHS policies, health care, communication, management commitment, education and training and workers’ behavior, have a direct impact on health and safety results towards social entrepreneurship of creating awareness in the construction sectors of Oman.RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/ IMPLICATIONSA model named Construction Industries Influencing Factors Framework (CIIFF) Model, has been developed with the orientation of workers’ behavior which can be developed further making improvements in the existing mechanism and the factors influencing can be dealt with wider procedures to ensure improvements.SOCIAL IMPLICATIONSThe model may help in creating tools that are more effective to reduce Occupational Health and Safety related accidents and property damages in a construction project. 


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