Prevalence of Respiratory Symptoms among Quarry Workers in Brunei Darussalam

Abstract

Background: The mining and quarrying industry is considered a hazardous work sector due to occupational exposure to quarry dust and particulate matter, resulting in workers' respiratory illnesses. These occupational respiratory illnesses tend to have a long latency before the diagnosis is made, and therefore early detection of respiratory symptoms is crucial to prevent the development of chronic irreversible respiratory conditions. This study aimed to assess quarry workers' self-reported respiratory symptoms and their health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in Brunei.
 Methods: A descriptive study using a convenient sampling method was involving 23 quarry workers from three quarry companies in Brunei. The data were collected using the adapted St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), which was self-administered to all participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
 Results: Cough was the most typical reported symptom (26.1%) among quarry workers, followed by cough with phlegm (8.6%), shortness of breath (4.3%), and chest discomfort (4.3%). The mean total SGRQ score was 7.51 (±11.70), while the sub-domain scores for symptoms, activity, and impact were 10.60 (±12.37), 6.30 (±11.43), and 7.35 (±15.87), respectively.
 Conclusion: The key findings revealed that there was a low prevalence of respiratory symptoms in quarry workers. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms was higher among workers who were smokers, those who were exposed to quarry materials, and those who had been employed longer. The study's findings can be utilized by health professionals to plan, implement and evaluate preventative measures for mining and quarrying work settings.