An observational study on the prevalence of hearing loss among construction workers in South Chennai

Introduction: The construction industry is one of the biggest industries in the world. Noise levels are considered hazardous when they reach 85 decibels or higher. Hearing loss adversely affects both the quality of life and the risk of damage. The study\u27s primary objective was to estimate the prevalence of hearing loss among construction workers, and the secondary objective was to assess the factors associated with hearing loss among construction workers in the urban area of Chennai. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 100 construction workers who were chosen by simple random sampling from February to July 2024. A comprehensive Ear Nose Throat and otoscopic examination were done. Using Pure Tone Audiometry, the degree and type of hearing loss were assessed. Problems, if any, were identified and treated accordingly. Data was input into a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel. The data analysis tool utilized was SPSS version 21. Fischer’s exact test and the Chi-square test were used to determine the degree of association. p-values below 0.05 were regarded as significant. Results: The mean age was 36 ± 10 years. Most of them n=73 (73%) were literate. The mean exposure was 15 ± 8 years. Most of the study population n=68 (68%) did not use any PPE. Only 21 of them (21%) had symptoms of earache, hard of hearing, or tinnitus. Almost 79 of them (79%) had no such symptoms. Almost 84 participants (84%) had normal ear examinations. Out of the 11 who complained of being hard of hearing, 2 were diagnosed with unilateral conductive hearing loss, and 9 were diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The majority who used PPE were aged <30 years n=15 (46.9%), among them about n=29 (90.6%) were literate and 93.8% were employed for <20 years in construction sites. Factors like age, education, and years of occupation were found to be associated with PPE use among the study population. Factors like age, educational status, years of occupation, and use of PPE were found to be significantly associated with hearing loss by Fischer’s exact test. Conclusion: Factors contributing to hearing loss among construction workers are age, education, years of exposure, and PPE use. Periodical ear checkups and use of PPE like ear plugs must be insisted among people working in noisy environment

Self-reported occupational hazards among waste management staff in Lalitpur Metropolitan City: A pilot study from Nepal

Introduction: Solid waste management is a major environmental and public health concern in Nepal. Workers face occupational health and safety concerns due to the materials they handle, the emissions from those materials, and the equipment they use. This study aimed to study the health status and occupational hazards existing among municipal waste collectors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 125 municipal waste collectors working in Lalitpur Metropolitan City. Three organizations were selected randomly by using simple random sampling and the census method was applied to interview the respondents. Data entry was done in Epi Info 7, and analysis was in the SPSS 23 version. The chi-square test was used to measure the strength of the association. Results: Majority of respondents 99(95.2%) faced physical hazard, 65(62.5%) biological hazards. Likewise, 69(55.2%) had knowledge of its health effects, and 106(84.8%) had knowledge of occupational hazards. Nearly one-third 38(30.4%) used personal protective equipment (PPE) and 55(44%) had been vaccinated for tetanus. The health check-up in the past year of respondents was low 49(39.2%). A statistically significant association was found between the job category and the presence of physical, chemical, and biological hazards (p=0.041, 0.003, and 0.001 respectively). Conclusion: The study highlights inadequate utilization of PPE among respondents, particularly concerning given their strenuous work. While most workers had good mental health, more than half showed poor physical health. The study recommends organizations actively promote PPE use, administer tetanus and hepatitis vaccinations, and provide workplace training

Effectiveness of specific muscle group stretching in reducing regional musculoskeletal disorders among textile workers

Introduction: Regional musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are prevalent in the textile industry, primarily due to repetitive or static work postures. This study aimed to assess whether specific muscle group stretching exercises could reduce MSDs complaints among workers in the textile industry. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest approach without a control group, which limits causal inference, was employed. Thirty textile workers participated in a structured stretching program twice daily for 8 weeks. Complaints of MSDs were assessed using the Nordic Body Map (NBM) questionnaire at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8. The data were analyzed using Repeated Measure ANCOVA to control for age, gender, length of employment, and BMI, with effect sizes calculated using Cohen\u27s d. Results: Significant reductions in MSDs complaints were observed across seven body regions (p<0.05). The largest improvement was in the upper neck region (mean score reduction = 0.83; Cohen\u27s d = 1.116), indicating a very large effect size. Covariates (age, gender, length of employment, and BMI) did not significantly influence outcomes (p > 0.05). Conclusion: While targeted stretching of specific muscle groups appeared to reduce regional MSDs among textile workers, the absence of a control group limits the ability to draw definitive causal conclusions. Future studies should employ randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes to confirm these preliminary findings

Factors associated with shoulder pain and disability among Nepalese farmers

Introduction: Shoulder pain (SP) is a common concern impacting the quality of life (QOL) and productivity among Nepalese farmers. However, the factors contributing to SP are not fully understood. This study aimed to identify the bio-psychosocial factors influencing SP and disability in Nepalese farmers. Methods: 122 full-time farmers seeking treatment for SP participated in this cross-sectional study. The Nepalese version of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Questionnaire (SPADI-NP), the 11-item Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11-NP), and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS-NP) were used for data collection. Univariate and multivariate linear regressions were used to determine the contributing factors of SP and disability. Results: TSK-11-NP, PCS-NP, age, gender, and education were significantly associated with the SPADI-NP, with TSK-11-NP (R2=0.42) and PCS-NP (R2=0.40) demonstrating the highest association. The first model with a constant and TSK-11-NP explained 42% of the variance in SPADI-NP. Adding age, gender, and education sequentially, the model improved the ability to explain the variance in SPADI-NP to 46%, 48%, and 50%, respectively. The results indicated that psychological factors were the strongest factor associated with SP and disability in Nepalese farmers. Conclusions: Heightened kinesiophobia, pain catastrophization, advancing age, female gender, and low level of education significantly contributed to SP and disability in Nepalese farmers. A comprehensive approach addressing these bio-psychosocial factors would be necessary for managing SP and disability and possibly improving the QOL of the local farmers in the region

Chronic respiratory morbidity, musculoskeletal disorders and other self-reported illness among migrant brick kiln workers in rural South India

Introduction: Brick kiln workers face a higher risk of respiratory issues like Chronic Bronchitis and Asthma due to exposure to fine particulate matter. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of these conditions, along with musculoskeletal discomfort and other self-reported morbidities, among workers in a rural health center’s field practice area. Methods: The This cross-sectional study included all men and women above 18 years of age (n=650) working in the 12 brick kilns in the study area.  Out of 650, 580 workers gave consent for study participation. A standardized and validated questionnaire (ICMR-INSEARCH) along with Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) was used to assess the prevalence of respiratory morbidity. Other morbidities were assessed by history taking and clinical examination of the participants. Results: There were 580 workers, with a mean age of 36.47(SD 11.45) years. Of them, 66% were engaged in molding, 25% in carriage, and 6% in baking work. There were 15.2% smokers and 8.4% tobacco users.  Chronic bronchitis was present in 37 (6.4%) and Asthma in 12 (2.1%) workers. Higher age (>50 years) was associated with chronic bronchitis. (p<0.05) Males and those who smoke less than 10 beedis daily had a higher PEFR. (p<0.05) Musculoskeletal problems, low back ache (37%), neck pain (10.5%), and knee pain (9.5%) were the most common self-reported morbidities, followed by hypertension (9%) and gastritis (6%). Conclusion: The brick kiln workers had a high prevalence of Chronic bronchitis and Bronchial Asthma. Musculoskeletal problems, especially low backache, were the most common morbidity reported

Impact of ergonomic interventions on musculoskeletal health among Thai para rubber workers: evaluating workstation improvements

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a significant occupational health issue among rubber plantation workers in Thailand. This study evaluates the effectiveness of ergonomic interventions in reducing MSD risks in Ubon Ratchathani Province. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used to study 96 workers across urban (UA), semi-urban (SA), and rural (RA) areas. Participants were divided into three groups: a control group (RA), a training-only group (SA), and a group receiving both ergonomic training and workstation improvements (UA). Data were collected using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) tool before and after the interventions. Paired sample t-tests were conducted to analyze changes in REBA scores and ergonomic knowledge. Results: The UA group, which received workstation improvements, showed a significant reduction in REBA scores from 13.22 (very high risk) to 6.47 (medium hazard) (p < 0.001). The SA group exhibited improved training scores (p < 0.005) but no significant reduction in ergonomic risks. The RA group showed no significant changes. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that while ergonomic training improves knowledge, it does not effectively reduce ergonomic risks without corresponding physical modifications to the work environment. Workstation improvements significantly lowered MSD risks in the UA group. These findings suggest that a combined approach of training and environmental interventions is necessary to improve occupational health outcomes in high-risk settings like rubber plantations

Stretching exercises for low back pain among dump truck operators in Indonesia

Introduction: Dump truck operators are at a greater risk of developing low back pain due to their occupational exposures. This study aimed to determine the effect of stretching exercises, especially pain intensity and flexibility, on low back pain among dump truck operators. Methods: A non-randomized controlled study with a pretest-posttest control group design was conducted, involving 76 dump truck operators with low back pain. A total of 38 operators were assigned for the control and intervention groups through purposive sampling. The control group only received an educational video for low back pain prevention, while the intervention group received an educational video with additional low back stretching exercises. Pain intensity and flexibility were assessed at baseline and weekly using the Numeric Rating Scale and the V-Sit and Reach Test. The collected data were analyzed using univariate, bivariate, and general linear models. Results: At the end of the intervention, a significant difference was found in pain intensity and flexibility between the control and intervention groups (p<0.001). Pain intensity reduction and increased flexibility were greater in the intervention group. There is no significant relationship between pain intensity reduction and increased flexibility during stretching exercises (p>0.05). Conclusion: Low back stretching exercises can significantly reduce pain intensity and increase flexibility in low back pain. Dump truck operators or heavy equipment operators with low back pain should routinely do low back stretching exercises

Status of Oxidative Stress, Antioxidants and Liver Function Tests among Nepalese Workers from Gulf Countries and Malaysia

Introduction: Nepalese migrants to the Gulf countries and Malaysia are prone to poor health because of their low status as migrants, challenging living and working conditions, changes in lifestyle, and inadequate access to health care. The main aims of this study were to assess the status of oxidative stress, antioxidants, and liver function among Nepalese workers from Gulf countries and Malaysia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 332 Nepalese migrant workers to Gulf countries and Malaysia arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport during May 15 and June 15, 2019. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, and venous blood sample to access the status of oxidative stress, antioxidants, and liver function. Blood samples were analyzed at the laboratory of Janamaitri Foundation Institution of Health Sciences. Results: Results revealed that 5% had an abnormal liver panel test. The mean value for Serum Malondialdehyde (MDA) was 1.57± 1.25 µmol/L while 38.8% had an increased level of MDA. The mean value for total Protein was 7.19 ± 0.97 gm %, albumin was 4.43 ± 0.75 gm %, and Albumin/ Globulin Ratio was 1.8. There was a significant difference in MDA, SOD, and A/G ratio among migrant workers as per country of work. Conclusion: Nepalese migrant workers in Gulf countries and Malaysia are vulnerable to developing liver diseases. The high levels of serum MDA among Nepalese migrant workers is an important concern for the health care system. Thus, strengthening policy for regular health screening among these migrant workers is warranted

Evaluating Occupational Health and Safety Conditions among Security Guards in a Ghanaian Public University

Introduction: The occupational health and safety (OHS) issues at academic institutions have received little attention, especially regarding the security staff who face specific job-related risks. This paper examines the safety climate, risk exposures, and occupational health and safety (OHS) policies among security guards at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to October 2023, employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Structured questionnaires, including the validated NOSACQ-50 tool, observational checklists, and expert-led risk assessments, were used in data collecting. The study comprised 162 security guards with a minimum of one year of experience. The relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and safety outcomes was evaluated using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and correlation analyses. Results: With a mean score of 2.25 ± 0.17, the general safety climate was judged to be poor; management\u27s safety commitment and communication received especially low ratings. Among the main occupational hazards were psychological risks (67.8%), environmental exposures (76.2%), and ergonomic stresses (87.7%). Among the frequently mentioned health issues were occupational stress (86.4%) and low back pain (74.0%). Only 23.5% of participants regularly reported exposures; hence, reporting of occupational injuries was less than ideal. High-risk areas identified by risk assessments as needing immediate mitigation included musculoskeletal injuries, stress, and insect bites. Conclusion: Overall, the report exposes notable shortcomings in the OHS infrastructure and security environment for Ghanaian university staff. To ensure a safer workplace for security personnel, effective training, managerial commitment, policy implementation, and risk-reduction techniques are urgently needed