A Study on Occupational Hazards Among Traffic Personnel in Guwahati City, India

Abstract

The study focuses occupational health hazards among traffic police in Guwahati, the fastest growing city inNorth East India. 45 traffic police from 15 traffic points were met with a questionnaire at their convenient time. Noise level was measured with the help of a sound level meter during busy hours on working days in January and February’2017. 50 common men were also asked about problems from noise and air pollution. Secondary data related to level of air pollutants (PM10, SO2 and NO2) in 6 stations were collected from Pollution Control Board, Assam. Selected traffic people were found to be disturbed by respiratory problems, regular body pain, asthma and headache. Dust was found to be the common disturbing factor whereas noise was the most irritating factor in starting and end of school/office timings. Noise level in all traffic points were above desirable limit prescribed for commercial area, i.e., 65dB. Noise levels in a few traffic points recorded more than 80dB. Traffic jam and irritating horn of vehicles are big factors of noise pollution in Guwahati. Average level of PM10, SO2 and NO2 were 85 µg/m3, 7 µg/m3 and 15 µg/m3 respectively. Increasing number of private vehicles along with increasing population is the main cause of increasing vehicular pollution in Guwahati city. Government initiatives for better health and service in terms of monitoring of vehicles at regular intervals for noise and different pollutants, construction of toilets and suitable shelter places, provision of appropriate aid/ mask will be helpful for health and service of traffic people. Workshops/ programs and regular health check-ups for traffic personnel can bring positive change to occupational health.