Occupational hazards under a warmer planet: A cross-sectional study on occupational dermatitis, musculoskeletal disorders, and heat strain score index among construction workers at Kottayam, Kerala
Occupational hazards under a warmer planet: A cross-sectional study on occupational dermatitis, musculoskeletal disorders, and heat strain score index among construction workers at Kottayam, Kerala
Blog Article
Background: Global climate change has a major impact on occupational health.Construction workers are the most vulnerable group to work under a warmer planet.Potential health consequences to them include occupational skin diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, respiratory problems, cancers, mental health disorders, and infectious diseases.
The incidence of occupational dermatitis and work-related musculoskeletal diseases is at its peak.This study aimed to bring out the burden of the above-mentioned occupational diseases among construction workers at Kottayam and also to calculate their heat strain score index as they are the most vulnerable group to work under a warmer planet.Objectives: To assess the prevalence of work related occupational dermatitis and musculoskeletal disorders among construction workers and also to calculate their heat strain score index.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 82 (n = 82) construction workers in Kottayam, Kerala.Purposive sampling was done.Validated, standard questionnaires were used to collect data by interview 9 Piece Outdoor Sectional method, followed by clinical examination.
Data were entered and analyzed in SPSS version 23.Results: Eighty-two construction workers participated in the present study.A total of 62% were migrants, and 38% were Keralites.
Among 82 workers, nine (11%) of them reported having hand eczema and eight of them (9.8%) reported having wrist eczema.Neck pain (18.
3%) and low back ache (18.3%) were the most common musculoskeletal symptoms.Heat strain score index of the workers was calculated.
A total of 69.5% were in the green zone, 28% were in the yellow zone, and 2.5% were in the red zone.
Conclusion: Construction workers are highly exposed to the risk of getting work-related occupational dermatitis and musculoskeletal disorders.The most common occupational skin complaint among these construction workers was itchy rash (12.2%).
The overall prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was 51.2%.Neck pain and low backache were the most common musculoskeletal symptoms.
On the calculation of heat strain score index, these workers were found to have a higher heat strain score index.A total of 28% in the Hockey Protective - Pants - Youth yellow/alarm zone and 2.5% in the red/danger zone.
Statistically significant association was established between the intensity of physical work (P = 0.0001) and the intensity of thirst (P = 0.001) with the total heat strain score.