Identification of hazardous substances and occupational morbidity associated with steel and power industry workers in Odisha, India

Abstract

BackgroundThe steel and power industry workers reported high prevalance of workplaceinjury and illnesses. The study aimed to identify occupational morbidity and workplace injuries in the steel and power industry. The study also assessed various hazardous substances and factors associated with occupational morbidity. MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out in a highly industrialised district of Odisha. The survey was conducted using a structured interview schedule in the steel and power industry of Angul, Odisha. The study identified hazardous conditions of male industrial workers (N = 425) in power and steel industry by adoping Probability Proportion to Size (PPS) sampling method. The occupational morbidity were illnesses such as chronic obstructive lung diseases, injuries, back pain, skin diseases, hearing impairment, heat stroke, cancer, and respiratory illness. Information about hazardous substances and occupational morbidity has been collected from health professionals (doctors and clinical staff) through in-depth interviews. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression was used to analyse various factors of occupational morbidity. ResultsThe majority of workers experienced injuries, musculoskeletal pain and body pain. Other occupational diseases like heat stroke, itching, fever, electric shock, eye problem, hearing problems, and respiratory diseases were identified from the study population. The study found that demographic variables like technical education, occupation, and household income were associated with occupational morbidity among steel and power industry workers. ConclusionThe knowledge of occupational hazards is influenced by socio-demographic variables, which could be intervened with short-term and long-term programs to reduce occupational morbidity.