Abstract
The purpose of this study was to find out the practice related to occupational health and safety among the brick factory workers. The study was based on descriptive cross sectional design. Random proportionate sampling technique was applied to select the respondent from each randomly selected five brick factory. The total numbers of 300 samples of brick factory workers were selected. Semi-structured questionnaire and observation checklist were used for data collection. Most of the participants had knowledge about occupational health and safety. Similarly about 54.7% of them use gloves, 25.3% use boot and 18% use mask as personal protective equipment. Majority of participants were aware about occupational hazard but their practice level of personal protective equipment is low for protecting themselves. So the practice of personal protective equipment should be encouraged in the brick factory for the promotion of occupational health and safety.
Highlights
Workplace can pose threats to human health in some conditions
According to Society for Environment and Economic Development-Nepal (2013) successful occupational health and safety practice requires the collaboration and participation of both employers and workers in health and safety programs, and involves the consideration of issues relating to occupational medicine, industrial hygiene, toxicology, education, engineering safety, ergonomics, psychology, etc.[2]
According to Occupational Safety and Health Project (2013), identification and analysis of hazardous and risky work in brick industries hazards associated with the non-application of ergonomic principles, for example badly designed machinery, mechanical devices and tools used by workers, improper seating and workstation design, or poorly designed work practices
Summary
Workplace can pose threats to human health in some conditions. Occupational health is to maintain worker's health and working capacity, to improve the working environment to become conducive to safety and health, and to develop the working organizations and cultures in a direction which supports health and safety of people (Ahmed et al, 2010)[1]. Brick making is one of the main industrial works in the Kathmandu valley. There are around 130 brick kilns in operation in the valley, with capacities up to 80 hundred thousand pieces of bricks per year, per kiln as per the Occupational Safety and Health Project (2013) 3. According to Occupational Safety and Health Project (2013), identification and analysis of hazardous and risky work in brick industries hazards associated with the non-application of ergonomic principles, for example badly designed machinery, mechanical devices and tools used by workers, improper seating and workstation design, or poorly designed work practices. Occupational safety and health is an important issue in this sector It can prevent the workers from occupational diseases and accidents and same time increased the efficiency of workers. Heat stress is main hazards for the brick kiln workers (Occupational Safety and Health Project, 2013)[5]. It is important to use PPE on hand, face and eye in the baking sections for preventing burns and visual impairment
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