scholarly journals Presumed Exposure to Chemical Pollutants and Experienced Health Impacts among Warehouse Workers at Logistics Companies: A Cross-Sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 7052
Author(s):  
Szabolcs Lovas ◽  
Károly Nagy ◽  
János Sándor ◽  
Balázs Ádám
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Chemical Safety ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Chemical Pollutants ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Warehouse Workers ◽  
And Storage

During intercontinental shipping, freight containers and other closed transport devices are applied. These closed spaces can be polluted with various harmful chemicals that may accumulate in poorly ventilated environments. The major pollutants are residues of pesticides used for fumigation as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from the goods. While handling cargos at logistics companies, workers can be exposed to these pollutants, frequently without adequate occupational health and safety precautions. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among potentially exposed warehouse workers and office workers as controls at Hungarian logistics companies (1) to investigate the health effects of chemical pollutants occurring in closed spaces of transportation and storage and (2) to collect information about the knowledge of and attitude toward workplace chemical exposures as well as the occupational health and safety precautions applied. Pre-existing medical conditions did not show any significant difference between the working groups. Numbness or heaviness in the arms and legs (AOR = 3.99; 95% CI = 1.72–9.26) and dry cough (AOR = 2.32; 95% CI = 1.09–4.93) were significantly associated with working in closed environments of transportation and storage, while forgetfulness (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.18–0.87), sleep disturbances (AOR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.17–0.78), and tiredness after waking up (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.20–0.79) were significantly associated with employment in office. Warehouse workers who completed specific workplace health and safety training had more detailed knowledge related to this workplace chemical issue (AOR = 8.18; 95% CI = 3.47–19.27), and they were significantly more likely to use certain preventive measures. Warehouse workers involved in handling cargos at logistics companies may be exposed to different chemical pollutants, and the related health risks remain unknown if the presence of these chemicals is not recognized. Applied occupational health and safety measures at logistics companies are not adequate enough to manage this chemical safety issue, which warrants awareness raising and the introduction of effective preventive strategies to protect workers’ health at logistics companies.

scholarly journals Chemical Pollutants in Closed Spaces of Transportation and Storage of Non-Dangerous Goods: A Combined Qualitative Approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Szabolcs Lovas ◽  
Orsolya Varga ◽  
Balázs Ádám
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Chemical Exposure ◽  
Systematic Search ◽  
Chemical Safety ◽  
Dangerous Goods ◽  
Chemical Pollutants ◽  
Harmful Organisms ◽  
And Storage

Abstract Background: Several chemical pollutants can accumulate in closed spaces of transportation and storage of non-dangerous goods, leading to high concentrations. Pollutants are mainly residues of pesticides used to prevent the spread of harmful organisms in intercontinental transportation, volatile organic compounds and components of diesel engine exhaust. The objectives of this cross-sectional qualitative study were to identify and evaluate the regulations in connection with the occupational chemical exposures caused by chemical pollutants in closed environments of transportation and storage, and to survey the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of occupational health and safety professionals and logistics managers related to this global workplace issue. Methods: A comprehensive systematic search of legal instruments was carried out in international, European Union and Hungarian legislation databases. Legal documents relevant for occupational chemical exposure at workplaces were included in the study and the legal relationships between selected documents were mapped. The systematic search of legal instruments identified 4737 records, of which 16 were included in the in-depth content analysis. According to the second objective, semi-structured face-to-face interviews were carried out with occupational health and safety professionals and warehouse managers at logistics companies located in Hungary. Results: The analysis of the documents highlighted the lack of explicit regulation on prevention from exposures caused by chemical pollutants in closed environments of transportation and storage of non-hazardous materials. The 21 completed interviews revealed that the professionals had very limited knowledge about the potential presence of chemical residues in closed spaces of transportation and storage. They deemed such chemical exposure rare and the related health effects negligible. Although legislation requires the risk assessment of workplaces, the assessment is misleading if potential hazards are not identified. Conclusions: The increasing risk of rapid global spread of harmful organisms due to climate change and dense international traffic results in growing need for fumigation, which, together with increasing temperature and transportation time, generates an emerging occupational and public health challenge. The revealed limitations point out that the chemical safety of transportation and storage of non-dangerous goods should be more specifically regulated and responsible professionals should be better informed about such workplace hazards.

scholarly journals Relationship of occupational health and safety training with health literacy among employees working in the various lines of business

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Nergiz Sevinc ◽  
Burcu Korkut
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Scale Scores

Background<br />Health literacy is vital for people’s ability to manage health. It has been known for a long time that the importance of education in increasing health literacy is an undeniable fact. The first aim of this study was to investigate the health literacy levels of employees working in different business lines receiving service from the occupational health and safety unit. The second aim was to reveal how health literacy levels are affected according to the training duration.<br /><br />Methods<br />A cross-sectional study was conducted on 202 employees receiving service from the Karabuk occupational health and safety unit. The employees were divided into three groups as workers, officers and others. All employees were given the questionnaire consisting of 31 questions including sociodemographic characteristics and the adult health literacy scale. A face-to-face interview was performed with each of the employees. Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze the data.<br /><br />Results<br />The range of adult health literacy scale scores of the employees was 4-23. There was no significant difference in adult health literacy scale scores between age groups (p=0.38). The percentage of employees who received more than 16 hours training course was 19.3%, 20.6%, and 46.7% for workers, civil servants and other employees, respectively. Adult health literacy scale scores increased in proportion to the amount of training the employees received (p=0.001).<br /><br />Conclusion<br />This study reveals that occupational health training has a positive effect on health literacy.

scholarly journals Studi Tingkat Pengetahuan dan Persepsi tentang Kesehatan dan Keselamatan Kerja (K3) Berbasis Gender pada Pekerja Ojek Online di Kota Kupang

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Antonius A. Kewohon ◽  
Jacob M. Ratu ◽  
Soleman Landi
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
T Test ◽  
Health Promotion Program ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Work Accidents ◽  
A Company

Knowledge and perception about occupational health and safety in a company are essential to prevent work accidents as they can affect behavior at work. The number of accidents in Kupang city involving motorbikes was 276 cases (in 2018). This study aims to determinate differences in knowledge and perceptions of occupational health and safety between male and female online taxibike. This types research is analitic survey by design cross sectional. This study had a sample of 112 taxibike workes, consisting of 61 men and 61 women. The sampling method was accidental sampling. Data were analyzed using t-test (independent sample t-test). The results showed a significant difference between male and female online taxibike regarding perceptions of occupational health and safety while there was no difference between male and female online taxibike regarding knowledge of occupational health and safety. It is necessary for online taxibike companies to conduct health promotion program to increase knowledge and perceptions about occupational health and safety among their workers.

scholarly journals HUBUNGAN INTENSITAS SUARA DENGAN GANGGUAN PENDENGARAN PEKERJA UNIT KILN PT. HOLCIM INDONESIA TBK. CILACAP PLANT TAHUN 2016

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-97
Author(s):  
Afifah Nurul Azmi ◽  
Yulianto Yulianto
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Cross Sectional

Pengukuran intensitas suara yang dilakukan oleh departemen Occupational Health and Safety PT. HolcimIndonesia Tbk. Cilacap Plant tahun 2015 diketahui nilai intensitas suara di Unit Kiln melebihi NAB yaituberkisar:88,9 dB - 111,2 dB. Intensitas suara di tempat kerja sebesar 85 dB selama 8 jam dapat beresikomemberikan efek gangguan pendengaran. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mengetahui hubungan intensitas suaradengan gangguan pendengaran pekerja Unit Kiln PT. Holcim Indonesia Tbk. Cilacap Plant. Jenis penelitian yangdigunakan adalah observasional dengan metode cross sectional. Variabel yang dianalisis adalah variabel bebas(intensitas suara), variabel terikat (gangguan pendengaran), variabel pengganggu (umur, masa kerja, penggunaanalat pelindung telinga, lama paparan, suhu, kelembaban). Sampel dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh pekerjapatrol pada Unit Kiln PT. Holcim Indonesia Tbk. Cilacap Plant tahun 2016 sebanyak 16 orang. Hasil analisis ujistatistik menggunakan uji Pearson Product Moment menunjukkan tidak ada hubungan antara intensitas suaradengan gangguan pendengaran telinga kiri, telinga kanan dan kedua telinga pada pekerja Unit Kiln PT. HolcimIndonesia Tbk. Cilacap Plant tahun 2016. Diperoleh nilai hitung rxy = 0,073; 0,161 dan 0,019 menunjukkanhubungan yang sangat rendah. Berdasarkan hasil tersebut disimpulkan tidak ada hubungan intensitas suara dengangangguan pendengaran pekerja Unit Kiln PT. Holcim Indonesia Tbk. Cilacap Plant tahun 2016. Saran bagi OHSdepartment melakukan pemeriksaan lebih lanjut tentang alasan pekerja tidak menggunakan APT dan dilakukanpemantauan secara rutin penggunaan APT pada pekerja saat bekerja. Bagi pekerja agar bekerja sesuai denganSOP yang sudah ada dan menggunakan APT saat bekerja serta saling mengingatkan dalam penggunaan APT.

scholarly journals Occupational health and safety characteristics of agricultural workers in Adana, Turkey: a cross-sectional study

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramazan Azim Okyay ◽  
Ferdi Tanır ◽  
Pelin Mutlu Ağaoğlu
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Social Security ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Agricultural Workers ◽  
Occupational Accidents ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Mean

Background Among agricultural workers, especially in the seasonal migratory ones, housing and hygiene related issues, occupational accidents, low levels of education, poverty and absence of social security problems emerge as significant public health problems. This study aims to compare migrant-seasonal workers (MSWs) and resident agricultural workers (RAWs) in terms of socio-demographic characteristics and occupational health and safety in Adana, one of Turkey’s most important agricultural cities. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on RAWs and MSWs, aged 15–65, operating in the province of Adana. The calculated sample sizes for both MSWs and RAWs were distributed using stratified simple random sampling to five districts of Adana. Results The mean age of the 798 participating agricultural workers was 34.6 ± 14.2. Of the RAWs, 78.8% and of the MSWs 57.0% were male; 5.8% of RAWs and 32.8% of MSWs were illiterate. The mean number of people in the households of the participating workers was 5.1 for RAWs and 6.6 for MSWs. Of the RAWs, 20.5% were not covered by any social security scheme while this percentage was 35.1% in MSWs. RAWs worked 9.9 h a day while MSWs worked 10.9 h a day. Of the agricultural workers, 12.9% had injuries caused by occupational accidents. Discussion Agricultural workers, who are a large part of Turkey’s economically active population, do not have healthy and safe working conditions. New regulations in the fields of social security, record keeping, monitoring, supervision, education and occupational health have been implemented recently to solve these problems. Despite the recent improvements there are still some problematic issues in the auditing of the necessary practices.

scholarly journals Exposure to occupational hazards among bakers and their coping mechanisms in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winifred Serwaa Bonsu ◽  
Dina Adei ◽  
Williams Agyemang-Duah
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Interpersonal Relationship ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Coping Mechanisms ◽  
Occupational Hazards ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background: Despite the contribution of the baking industry to employment creation and income generation in low-and middle-income countries, the sector is also prone to occupational health and safety challenges which could undermine the quality of life and wellbeing of bakers within the industry. However, studies on the exposure to occupational hazards among bakers and the strategies they employ to control their exposure to occupational hazards are still lacking in Ghana. In this study, we aimed at examining the exposure to occupational hazards among bakers in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana and further explore their coping mechanisms. Methods: By employing a cross-sectional design, the study was conducted among 172 bakers in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. A questionnaire consisting of both closed and open-ended questions was used to take data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were adopted to analyze the data. Results: We found that the participants were exposed to different types of occupational hazards including physical (noise, flour dust/smoke, fire, and high temperature), biological (mosquitoes, insects and rodents), psychosocial (stress, verbal abuse, and poor interpersonal relationship), chemical (chemicals in the local soap used to clean and wash napkins after baking), and ergonomic hazards (standing, sitting and bending repetitively). Some of the coping mechanisms employed to reduce exposure to the various types of occupational hazards comprise the use of a wooden and metallic peel to place and remove bread from the oven, removing excess fire from the oven with a peel, use of mosquito repellent and coil, rest breaks and staying hydrated. Conclusion: The findings from this study are therefore critical to informing policymakers in implementing occupational health and safety policies to safeguard the health of bakers in Ghana and other low-and middle-income countries. We suggest that there should be participatory and action-oriented programs organized for bakers at their weekly meetings to discuss relevant occupational health and safety issues. Union executives should carry out worksite inspection accompanied by a checklist to monitor the progress of the sessions held during meetings.

scholarly journals The Effect of Implementing Occupational Health and Safety Programs on Suspected COVID-19 Incidents in PT. Maruki International Employees

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 158-166
Author(s):  
Abdul Muis ◽  
Muhammad Rifai ◽  
Rahmawati Azis
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Safety Program ◽  
Corona Virus ◽  
The Government

World Health Organization (WHO) has shown Corona Virus Disease 2019 as a pandemic. The spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia has now spread across locations and across countries, accompanied by an increase in the number of problems and/or the number of deaths. To overcome the spread of Covid-19, both the government and business actors have made various efforts so that the spread of the Covid-19 virus can be prevented and overcome, especially the spread of the Covid-19 virus in office areas by implementing new normal rules in the workplace through the Occupational Safety and Health program. Based on the results of observations from one of the lead managers of PT Maruki International Indonesia, who said that there had been cases against some of his employees who were suspected of being suspected of having COVID-19, we as authors consider it necessary to raise this issue to be investigated for input for the company so that it can be used to implement the implementation. Occupational Health and Safety program against suspected cases of the Covid-19 virus among PT Maruki International Indonesia employees. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the implementation of the Occupational Health and Safety Program on the incidence of suspected Covid-19 virus among employees of PT Maruki International Indonesia. This type of research is quantitative research with a design approach cross sectional study. The sample used is 150 employees from a population of 241 employees. Collecting quantitative data using a checklist and analyzed by univariate, bivariate. Thus, it can be said that the Behavioral Improving Body Immunity variable affects the variable incidence of suspected covid-19. It is hoped that with the results of this study the government and related company management can provide a policy to deal with the spread of the corona virus in the workplace. Keywords: Activities of wearing masks; hand washing habits; efforts to maintain distance and suspected cases of covid-19.

scholarly journals Analysis of Facilities and Power Competency on Implementation of Safety and Health Work in Puskesmas District of Tulungagung

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Siswanto Siswanto
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health Center ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Health Centers ◽  
Occupational Health Services ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Safety ◽  
Safety And Health

Occupational health services shall be an effort to provide occupational health and safety protection to workers' communities, which have the objective of maintaining and improving the health status of the working-class community, Preventing the occurrence of health problems and protecting workers from health hazards and placing workers in the work environment in accordance with their physical and psychological abilities workers. Objective Analysis research is to analyze the completeness of facilities, workforce competencies to the implementation of Occupational Health and Safety in Puskesmas District of Tulungagung. The design used in the study was cross-sectional. The population is Puskesmas District of Tulungagung. The sample size was 32 respondents Health Center by using simple random sampling technique. Independent research variables are Infrastructure and Labor Competencies. The dependent variable is the implementation of Safety Management. Data was collected using kuesoner, then the data were analyzed using linear regression test with a significance level of α ≤ 0.05. The results showed more than half of the health center has the facilities and infrastructure K3 (Occupational Health and Safety Management) is complete as many as 23 respondent’s health centers (76.7%), more than half Puskesmas. as having the competence K3 Officers who are not trained as much as 23 respondents health centers (76.7%). more than half of Puskesmas.have health and safety management that less as much as 19 respondent of health center (63,3%). The result of statistical test shows that there is no influence between K3 infrastructure and worker with K3 management (0,340). The result of statistic test obtained by Pseudo R square value at Nagelkerke is 0,086, which means infrastructure and competence in explaining MK3 implementation is 0,086 (8,6%) and there are 91,4% other factors outside model in implementation of safety and health management MK3).The conclusion of this study is that occupational health safety management can be influenced by many factors. All the supporting factors in the implementation of occupational health safety management should be synergized to achieve optimal work safety objectives.

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