a Department of Environmental Sciences , Kinnaird College for Women , Pakistan.
b Department of Chemical Engineering , COMSATS , Pakistan.
Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2019 Sep;25(3):394-401. doi: 10.1080/10803548.2017.1393161. Epub 2017 Dec 14.
. This study was conducted to assess hazards faced by elementary workers. . A questionnaire survey and a respiratory function test (spirometry) were carried out on 150 respondents. . Major hazards identified related to sharp objects, heavy weight lifting, thermally harsh conditions, working at height, whole body vibration, chemicals, pathogens, increased noise levels and confined space entry. Workers suffered from upper and lower respiratory disorder symptoms, digestive problems, optical and musculoskeletal issues, etc. Spirometric measurement showed obstructive lung disorders to be highest among construction workers (CW) (48%) followed by sanitation workers (SW) (32%) and solid waste pickers (SWP) (28%). Restrictive lung pattern was dominant among SW (56%) followed by SWP (46%) and CW (42%). The observed FEV/FVC in diseased SWP, SW and CW ranged from 51 to 96%, from 52 to 98% and from 31 to 99% respectively while observed mean FEV was 2.15, 1.79 and 1.70 L, respectively. . The study findings show that occupational exposure can significantly influence respiratory system impairment and contribute to other ailments among elementary workers. The study recommends use of appropriate protective equipment and regular medical examination for early recognition of any health risk so that timely interventions for effective management may be undertaken.
本研究旨在评估基层工人所面临的危害。对 150 名受访者进行了问卷调查和呼吸功能测试（肺功能测定）。确定的主要危害与锐器、重物搬运、恶劣的热环境条件、高空作业、全身振动、化学品、病原体、噪声水平升高和进入密闭空间有关。工人出现上呼吸道和下呼吸道紊乱症状、消化问题、视力和肌肉骨骼问题等。肺功能测定显示，建筑工人（CW）的阻塞性肺部疾病发生率最高（48%），其次是环卫工人（SW）（32%）和固体废物捡拾者（SWP）（28%）。限制性肺部模式在 SW 中占主导地位（56%），其次是 SWP（46%）和 CW（42%）。患病的 SWP、SW 和 CW 的观察到的 FEV/FVC 分别为 51%至 96%、52%至 98%和 31%至 99%，而观察到的平均 FEV 分别为 2.15、1.79 和 1.70 L。研究结果表明，职业暴露会显著影响呼吸系统损伤，并导致基层工人出现其他疾病。该研究建议使用适当的防护设备和定期体检，以早期发现任何健康风险，从而及时采取干预措施进行有效管理。
