Occupational Health Hazards among Leather Tannery Workers

Abstract

 Tools of Data Collection: - The following tools were used: First Tool: An interviewing questionnaire composed of (1-71) questions, in to five parts (Appendix I): Part I: Socio-demographic characteristics of the studied sample such as age, educational level, marital status, work hours (Q 1-8) Part II: Leather tannery worker's medical history as regards past history and current history which included previous and current disease, complication and follow up. (Q 9-19). Part III: Health habits and life style of studied sample, it included smoking, exercise, nutrition, rest and sleep and personal hygiene (Q 20-39). Part IV: Occupational hazards exposures in the workplace which included physical hazards (Q 40-43), chemical hazards (Q 44-49), biological hazards (Q 50-53) and psychological hazards (Q 54-58) regarding risk factors, disease from each hazards, duration of this disease. Part V: worker's knowledge about occupational health safety: it included definition of occupational health safety, types of PPE and risk factors (Q 59-71).  Summary 156 Second Tool: An Observation checklist: (Appendix II) Was modified from safety manual checklist, adopted and modified from (Bonnie, 2007) by the investigator. It was divided to assess: A- Leather tannery Worker's practice related to safety measures: It included over all apron, gloves, boot, mask as personal protective equipments. B- Leather tannery work environment: it included general work conditions, housekeeping, work climate and facilities, material handling. Third Tool: Physical Examination Sheet. (Appendix III). Adopted and modified by the investigator from (Henner, 2007). It include two parts Part I: It was assessing blood pressure and random blood sugar. Part II: General observation on eye, lips, skin, nails, musculoskeletal. The study results can be summarized as follows:  The mean age of leather tannery workers was 35.41 ± 10.11 years and 52% were married. Regarding educational level, 42.8% of them were read and write.  Summary 157  The total score of worker's life style was unhealthy 74% while the total score of worker's physical examination was abnormal 65%. The total score of worker's knowledge about occupational health safety was incorrect 78%. Also the total score