Assessment of knowledge of occupational hazards and practice of safety measures among construction workers of building industries of Kottayam District Kerala

Abstract

Background: Construction workers suffer far more serious injuries and fatalities than the general workforce population. The construction industry generates demand for the skilled and semi-skilled labor force. The unsafe behavior of the construction workers and unsafe conditions of the sites requires to be changed in the modern construction industry. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of occupational hazards and the practice of safety measures among construction workers of building industries of Kottayam district, Kerala. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the building construction workers in Kottayam, Kerala, from August 28, 2022, to October 29, 2022. Random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. The sample size was calculated to be 210 and a self-designed questionnaire was used to collect the data and analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Results: Among the 210 participants, 134 (63.8%) were unaware of work-related injuries or diseases. Usage of personal protective devices such as rubber gloves and safety glasses were 109 (51.95%), and 62 (29.5%), respectively. It was found that the higher the work experience of the participants, more was the awareness on occupational hazards. Conclusion: The study revealed that the majority of the construction workers were unaware about the occupational hazards associated with their work. The practice of safety measures among them was also moderate. There is an increased need for health promotion and campaigns so as to sensitize and enlighten workers on health risks attributed to poor utilization of personal protective equipments.