Hazard Exposure and Health Assessment of Construction Workers in New Delhi, India
Abstract
Introduction: Construction workers are at a risk of a number of health-related problems, and are exposed to a plethora of occupational hazards. Due to dearth of studies on construction workers about various determinants playing key role on their health.
Objectives: 1) To determine the socio-demographic status of construction workers. 2) To assess workplace hazard exposure among study subjects. 3) To evaluate the overall health of the study subjects.
Method: An opportunity was created in a general health camp organised by Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi in collaboration with Central Public Work Department (C.P.W.D) Officers’ Wives Association. All the construction workers attending the health camp were approached and only those who consented were included in the study. An interviewer administered questionnaire was filled for all the study subjects. Along with the questionnaire, detailed clinical examination was done, blood pressure and random blood sugar was measured. Simple tables and cross tables were made to present the data.
Result: Total 129 construction workers were included in the study. Nearly 87% of the workers were employed on temporary or contract basis. 63.6% (n=82) spent 8 to 12 hours per day at work. Around half of the construction workers earned Rs. 10,000 per month or less. Thermal stress affected the maximum number of workers (54.3%), followed by dust (53.5%), followed by noise (38%). Around 10% (13) of the workers complained of having some health problem. Various complaints were generalised body ache, headache, weakness, fever, cough, cold, blood in sputum, decreased appetite and blood in stools.
Conclusion: Construction workers are suffering from adverse health problems. There is the importance of regulating work hours of construction workers, periodic training on safe work culture and ways to reduce workplace injuries.
How to cite this article:
Bharti A, Kishore J, Bharti M, Bharti R, Yadav D, Goyal P. Hazard Exposure and Health Assessment of Construction Workers in New Delhi, India. Int J Preven Curat Comm Med 2020; 6(2): 22-27.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2454.325X.202009
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