الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Summary eather production includes many operations with different exposures which can be harmful for the health of workers and particularly be carcinogenic. An important health risk factor for the tannery workers is occupational exposure to chromium. chromium may enter the body by inhalation, ingestion and by direct cutaneous contact. Professional exposure to Cr (III) increases the risk of dermatitis, ulcers, perforation of the nasal septum and respiratory illnesses as well as increased lung and nasal cancers (Linos et al., 2011). Aim of the study: The aim of this study is to identify occupational health hazards among leather tannery workers through: Assessing knowledge of leather tannery workers about occupational health hazards. Assessing leather tannery worker’s practice towards safety measures of protection from occupational health hazards related to leather tannery. Assessing health status of leather tannery workers. Assessing leather tannery work environment. L Summary 153 Research Questions: 1. Is there relation between leather tannery workers’ Socio- demographic characteristic and their knowledge about occupational health hazards related to leather tannery? 2. Is there relation between leather tannery worker’s socio demographic characteristics and their practice? 3. Is there relation between leather tannery worker’s knowledge about occupational hazards and their practice? Research Design: Descriptive design was used in order to identify occupational health hazards among leather tannery workers. Technical Design: Setting: This study was conducted at leather tannery in Egyptian tanneries; in old Cairo area which it includes 200 leather tanneries. The investigator was selected 5% represent10 leather tanneries of total number that contain highest number of workers and contain all process of tanning which called: Summary 154 Name Number Mostafa Hassan Abd EL-Halik tannery 26 Abo Senna tannery 15 Hessin El-Gabas tannery 30 EL- Fallahin tannery 23 EL- Keratt EL Zahaby tannery 39 Abo EL-Ros tannery 23 Abd EL-Rahman Hassan El-Gabas tannery 30 Ahmed Antar tannery 19 Antar Salama tannery 20 Ahmed Rady tannery 25 Sampling: The total number of leather tannery workers at ten leather tanneries was 600 workers. Purposive sample consisted of 250 leather tannery workers were selected according to criteria of selection. Subject criteria: To be passed on the work at leather tannery three years and the worker does not suffer from occupational hazards before work at leather tanneries. Summary 155 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 of worker’s knowledge about occupational health hazards was incorrect 72%. This study showed that the total score of worker’s practice about personal protective equipments was unsatisfactory practice 82% and there was three leather tanneries, were healthy environment. There was highly statistically significant relation between knowledge of workers related to occupational health hazards and their educational level and monthly salary. Also there was highly statistically significant relation between educational level of workers and their practice while there was statistically significant relation between experience years of workers in tanneries and their practice. This study also reflected that there was a highly statistically significant relation between knowledge of workers related to occupational hazards and their practice. Summary 158 The finding of the present study, suggested the following recommendations: 1. Regular awareness program should be conducted regarding safe work and use of personal protective devices. 2. Guidelines or simplified booklet contain basic information about safe work practices. 3. Periodic health examination and health assessment for each worker for early diagnosis, prompt treatment and attempt to limit disability. 4. Periodic inspection and assessment of leather tannery workplace environment |