A study of occupational health hazards among assiut spinning factory workers

Abstract EN

Cotton industry workers are exposed to various hazards in the different departments of textile factories.

The major health problems associated with cotton dust are respiratory problems.

The aims of the work are study the occupational health hazards among the workers in Assiut Spinning Factory and to assess the different protective measures used during working day to prevent the different hazards.

This study was conducted in Assiut Spinning Factory.

The total number of the studied sample was 550 workers out of 650 who worked in the productive and repair sectors.

A questionnaire was constructed include two parts, one to assess the industrial hazards and their preventive measures and the second one included the information from the health record of the worker in Health Insurance included pre-placement examination and periodic medical examination.

The data collection took about 6 months (from July to the end of December 2001).

Our study revealed that the vast majority of workers (96.9%) were males.

About two thirds (65.8%) of workers have experience of work for 20-30 years (mean was 20.5+5.3).

67.3% of the workers were mentioned that the mask is available and only 41.6% from them using it during work.

99.5% of workers mentioned about the availability of the emergency equipments.

Moreover 99.3% of workers mentioned that there are no health education programs.

The workers in the blending and picking department, carding and spinning department and combing and twisting department suffer from cough (68.3%, 60.2% and 73.7% respectively), chest pain (68.3%, 57.6%, and 64.9% respectively), and dyspnea (70.7%, 68.1% and 71.9% respectively).

The difference from other departments was stastically significant.

Ear disease and ear secretion were common symptoms among more than half of the workers in the above mentioned departments in addition to winding and doubling departments and the differences from other departments were statistically significant (P<0.05).

Only 63.8% of workers were performed periodic medical examination.

It was found that 13.4%, 11.1% and 2.3% were suffering from chronic bronchitis, chronic bronchitis with emphysema and bronchial asthma respectively.

13.4% of workers have sensory deafness while 9.9% have sensory conductive deafness.

The study recommend with improving of worker’s health through: Periodic medical examination should be performed to all workers in the factory.

Periodic inspection of working environment by industrial hygienist through regular measurement of noise level, illumination, ventilation and cotton dust concentration.

Training and health education programs should be provided to all workers from the start of work.

Emphasizing the correct use of personal protective measures.

If possible, the factory should look into the possibility of replacing the old machines with new ones, which is less noisy.