Occupational Health Hazards among Workers in Chemical Factories

Background: Occupational health hazards are risks associated with working in specific occupations. Types of occupational health hazards are chemical, biological, physical, and psychological hazards. Aim: Assessing occupational health hazards among workers in chemical factories. Design: A descriptive exploratory study design was used. Setting: The study was conducted at industry area at EL Sharqia governorate, Egypt. Five factories, where selected which contain the largest number of workers. Sample: All available workers in five factories were 200. Tools: two tools were used; first tool an interviewing questionnaire consisted of four parts to assess worker's demographic data, medical history, exposure to various types of occupational health hazards, and level of knowledge. Second tool observational checklist consists of three parts to assess worker’s compliance related to safety measures and work environment. Results: The study finding revealed that, 73.5% of workers were male and mean of workers age was 36.42±5.2 as regard, 53.0% of workers were married, and 57.0% of workers were secondary education, 62.0% of workers had a family members more than five individuals, 76.5% of workers have not sufficient income, the mean of worker's no of years of factory work was 7.06±3.55, 94.0% of workers worked at day shifts, 52.0% of workers worked from 6-8 hours. Additionally, there was a highly statistically significant relation between worker’s knowledge and exposure to occupational hazard. Conclusion: The study concluded that 86.5% of workers expose to physical hazards, 95% of workers expose to chemical hazards, 4% of workers expose to biological hazards, and 82% of workers expose to psychological hazards, more than two thirds of studied workers had unsatisfactory level of knowledge regarding occupational safety and health hazards, and statistically significant correlated between exposure to occupational hazard and environment when p-value was <0.001*. Recommendations: Provide educational program to workers about different type of occupational hazard and importance of safety measures.