A Study to Assess the effectiveness of an Information Booklet in terms of knowledge regarding Occupational hazards and Safety among workers working in selected chemical factories of Ahmedabad district of Gujarat state.

 

Mr. Samik Pathak

Lecturer, Joitiba College of Nursing, Bhandu, Tal- Visnagar, Dist- Mehsana (Gujarat)

 

ABSTRACT:

Background India is a growing economy, the world’s most vibrant and largest democracy and an aspiring superpower. Occupational safety and health (OSH) for India is a developmental tool’ and an empowering movement. As a result of globalization, Indian industry is exposed to the latest trends in OSH. Progressive industries have launched many initiatives to spread awareness on OSH among all stakeholders and to reduce OSH risks at workplace. A large number of companies have a corporate health, safety and environment (HSE) policy and have opted for various certifications in OHS^[1].Nearly 3.0 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by private industry employers in 2012, resulting in an incidence rate of 3.4 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers, according to estimates from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics^[2].India’s population has crossed 1.21 billion according to recently released figures of the last government census carried out in 2011. Of these, 833 million reside in rural area and 377 million reside in urban area. Those in working age group are estimated to be 63.6%. More than 90% work in the informal economy, mainly agriculture and services (60% self-employed and 30% without regular jobs)^[3].Statistics on accidents and occupational illnesses is not easily available. The Director General of the Factory Advisory Services and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) reported 1,509 fatal and 33,093 non-fatal injuries in 2009, using records from registered factories which employed about 5% of total workforce^[4]. Research reports suggest that the official figures of fatalities and injuries may be grossly underestimated. The objectives of the study were 1)To assess the knowledge of workers regarding occupational hazards and safety.2) To evaluate the effectiveness of information booklet on knowledge   regarding occupational hazards and safety.3) To find out association of pre-test knowledge score towards   occupational hazards and safety with selected demographic variables of workers.Material and Methods­- Data was collected from 6o samples with structured questionnaire to evaluate the effectiveness of informational booklet. Assessment done from 0day,7day and follow up to assess knowledge. Result-Majority of the samples (38.3%) was in the age group of 26-33 years. As regards to gender majority of samples (88.3%) were male. As regards to educational status majority of samples (36.7%) had Higher Education. As regards to the total work experience majority of samples (66.7%) had 1.1-5 years of experience. as regards to Monthly Income majority (68.3%) samples were in 5001-10,000. As regards to types of employment majority of samples (90%) were in temporary type. As regards to source of Information majority of samples (90%) had never attended any seminar or training on OHS. As regards to type of exposure majority of samples (76.7%) had direct exposure. As regards to duration of exposure to dye per day majority of samples (58.3%) had 6 to 9 hours of exposure. As regards to duration of periodical health checkup majority of samples (61.7%) had need base. As regards to presence of any occupational disease or illness majority of samples (83.3%) had no any disease or illness. The mean pre test knowledge score was 11.17 and the mean post test knowledge score was 18.17.

 

Conclusion-The overall experience of conducting this study was satisfying one, as there was good co-operation from patient. The study was a new learning experience for the Researcher. The aim of the study was to assess the factors affecting to compliance of antiretroviral treatment, were 73% patients believe in ART, 72% aware about ART, 69% believe that ART increase life span. 75% stigma affect, 74%respond that special consideration given for ART where they doing job,89% patient said cost of transportation affect 71% experience the side effect, 49% patient said side effect of ART has impact in regularity of treatment, 58% patient said other medicine affects in compliance to ART. These data will assist the health workers to detect the high risk patient who need intervention for compliance to ART.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Occupation is the one in which person not only earn his daily bread but also spend one third of average adult life. As the number of industries is on the increase, several industries like cement industries, chemical industries, textile industries etc, serves mainly man for comfortable living. According to WHO, over 1000 million people worldwide are employed in small-scale industries, among these textile industry is one such small scale industry which provides employment for both men and women. It is an unorganized sector, mostly run by private establishments^[5].The Indian textile industry is the second largest employer after agriculture in the country. Statistics available with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) say that the industry provides direct employment to over 35 million people. It contributes to 17 per cent of the country’s exports. The Indian textile industry estimated to grow to a whopping 115 billion dollars by the year 2016^[6]. The projected growth rate stands at 16 per cent per year. India has had legislation on occupational safety and health for 50 years. But regulatory authorities are limited to 1,400 safety officers, 1,154 factory inspectors, and 27 medical inspectors. These numbers are grossly inadequate even for the inspection of formal units that only employ about 10% of India's total workforce (around 26 million), let alone the millions who work in the informal sector with absolutely no safeguards^[7].

 

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Pre experimental approach was used with one group pre test post test design. The investigator used convenient sampling technique for selecting 60 samples. A structured knowledge questionnaire was prepared to assess the knowledge of the samples. The reliability of the structured knowledge questionnaire was determined by ‘test retest method’. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyze the data.

 

RESULT:

Majority of the samples (38.3%) were in the age group of 26-33 years. As regards to gender majority of samples (88.3%) were male. As regards to educational status majority of samples (36.7%) had Higher Education. As regards to the total work experience majority of samples (66.7%) had 1.1-5 years of experience. as regards to Monthly Income majority (68.3%) samples were in 5001-10,000. As regards to types of employment majority of samples (90%) were in temporary type. As regards to source of Information majority of samples (90%) had never attended any seminar or training on OHS. As regards to type of exposure majority of samples (76.7%) had direct exposure.

 

As regards to duration of exposure to dye per day majority of samples (58.3%) had 6 to 9 hours of exposure. As regards to duration of periodical health checkup majority of samples (61.7%) had need base. As regards to presence of any occupational disease or illness majority of samples (83.3%) had no any disease or illness. The mean pre test knowledge score was 11.17 and the mean post test knowledge score was 18.17. Significance of the difference between pre test and post test knowledge was statistically tested using paired ‘t’ test and it was found significant at 0.05 level. There was significant increase in the knowledge of the workers after the administration of Information Booklet in terms of knowledge regarding Occupational hazards and Safety.

 

The association between the pre test score and demographic variables was tested using the chi-square test. There was significant association found between pre test knowledge score of the samples and demographic variables, such as like gender, educational status, total working experience, monthly income, type of employment, source of information were found significant with the pretest knowledge score at 0.05 level of significance. So thus for these variables null hypothesis is rejected and research hypothesis is accepted. For rest of other variables null hypothesis is accepted and research hypothesis is rejected.

DISCUSSION:

The present study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of Informational booklet on knowledge regarding occupational hazards and Safety among workers working in selected chemical factories of Ahmedabad district of Gujarat state. The investigator had administered information booklet to improve the knowledge of the 60 samples. It was revealed that the mean posttest knowledge score 18.17 was higher than mean pretest knowledge score 11.17 with the mean difference of 7, which was statistically proved and it revealed that the information booklet on occupational hazards and safety was effective in terms of knowledge of the factory workers.

 

CONCLUSION:

The findings indicated that Informational booklet was an effective in improving knowledge of chemical factory workers of selected chemical factory of Ahmedabad district of Gujarat state. Factory workers gained significant increase in knowledge shows that the Informational booklet was an effective. The Informational booklet on occupational hazards and safety was acceptable and useful method of teaching for factory workers. In this context the health professionals specially the nurses have wide opportunity to educate the factory workers regarding occupational health and safety which will not only educate but reduces the morbidity and mortality rates due to occupational hazards.

 

REFRENCE:

1.     Gullani K K., Community health nursing, Principles and practices, First edition; Kumar publishing house: 2005.page No.254-255.

2.     Park K. Text book of preventive and social medicine. 17^thed. Jabalpur, India: Banarsidasbhanot publishers; 1970.Page no- 574-576.

3.     Rogers, B. (1994): Roles of the occupational health nurse. In: Occupational health nursing concepts and practice. W.B. Saunders Co.: 48-64.

 

 

 

 

Accepted on 11.09.2017         © A&V Publications all right reserved