Occupational injuries and safety measures adopted by welding workers: a cross sectional study in South India

Abstract

Background

Welders have been identified as a high risk group according to ranking of

occupations based on cost related injuries. Employment of safety

measures and practices among welders are potential ways of preventing

occupational injuries. Adherence to these precautions is nearly universal in

the developed world but there is scarcity of information about the

situation in developing world including India.

Objectives 1) To estimate the prevalence of occupational injuries among

welding workers in Udupi district; 2) To assess the perception towards

occupational hazards and the safety measures adopted by the welders

Material and Methods A cross- sectional study was conducted among 160 non- industrial welding workers

in Udupi district. A pre-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used.

Results The prevalence of occupational injuries was found to be 80%. Only 24.4% of the welders had

undergone professional training. Though 95% of them were aware of the importance of personal

protective equipments (PPE), only 37.5% of them were regularly using PPE. Majority (75%) of them

reported that welding profession was dangerous. Around 79% of the workers reported carelessness being

the major cause of injury during work. Working hours of less than 8 hours in a day, reading of safety

manual and maintenance of equipments were significantly positively associated with occupational injuries

among welding workers.