Occupational Health Hazards among Migrant Canteen Workers in Select Higher Education Institutions of Rohtas District in Bihar
Keywords:
Occupational hazard, awareness, musculoskeletal problems, migrant workersAbstract
Background: Occupational health and safety practices are concern when there are major accidents at the workplace and it leads to huge loss for both human and property. Workers migrate from their hometown in search of better work opportunities in the canteen such as cutting, grinding, and washing. These activities lead to stress and muscle fatigue. Migrant canteen workers in Bihar face numerous occupational health hazards that pose significant risks to their well-being. Objective: This study tries to investigate the prevalence of occupational health hazards among migrant canteen workers in Bihar and also determine the awareness regarding occupational health and safety practices. Methodology: This study was qualitative in nature and exploratory in approach which was conducted in the various canteens of Bihar state and data was collected through in- depth interview for qualitative data. The universe for this study was 70 and the sample size was 4. Findings: The study resulted in thematic findings that the low occupational health hazards awareness of the canteen is due to inadequate education and training on occupational safety and health. The prevalent occupational health hazards are musculoskeletal hazards affects which includes back pain, headache, numbness in figures and hand, body ache etcetera and chemical hazards affects which includes red rashes, itching and various dermatological issues.
References
Afube, G. C., Nwaogazie, I. L., &Ugbebor, J. N. (2019).Assessment of hazards and safety practices in food and beverage industry in Nigeria. Journal of Engineering Research and Reports, 7(2), 1-18.
Ajambo, S. (2013).Promoting private-public synergies for managing flooding in Kampala city: A case study of Bwaise, Parish III, Kampele division (Master’s thesis, University of Agder, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Department of Development Studies).
Alli, B. O. (2008). Fundamental principles of occupational health and safety. International Labour Office. ISBN: 978-92-2-120454-1. https://doi.org/10.1080/9789221204541
Asmawi, U. M. M., Norehan, A. A., Salikin, K., Rosdi, N. A. S., Munir, N. A. T. A., &Basri, N. B. M. (2018). An assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices in food safety among food handlers engaged in food courts. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal, 6(2), 346-353.
Bertin, C. H. F. P., Rezende, M. A., Sigulem, D. M., &Morais, T. B. (2009). Hurdles at work: perceptions of hospital food handlers. Human resources for health, 7, 1-7.
Chengalur, S.N., Rodgers, S.H. and Bernard, T.E. (2004). Kodak’s ergonomic design for people at work. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. P 111
Dawal, S. Z. Md., &Taha, Z. (2006).The Effect of Job and Environmental Factors on Job Satisfaction in Automotive Industries. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 12(3), 267–280. https://doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2006.11076687
Elsayed, H. (2017). Effect of Educational Intervention about work-related musculoskeletal disorders on restaurant workers in Toshiba Alarabi factories at Benha city. Int J Novel Res HealthcNurs, 4(3), 1-15.
Elsersy, Y. M., Omar, A. A. R., El-DeenShehab El-Deen, N. S., & El-Saleet, G. M. A. (2018). Assessment of food safety in hospital kitchens in Tanta City Gharbia Governorate, Egypt. The Egyptian Journal of Community Medicine, 36(4), 47-58.
Ercan, A., &Kiziltan, G. (2014). Kitchen safety in hospitals: Practices and knowledge of food handlers in Istanbul, Turkey. Workplace Health & Safety, 62(10), 415-420.
Ghosh, S., Alim, S. R., & Rumi, S. (2022). Food handler's understanding regarding food handling knowledge and practices and contributing factors to those practices of selected hospital cafeterias in Dhaka, Bangladesh. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research. https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20220930
Government of India.(2008). Administrative Instructions on Departmental Canteens in Government Offices and Industrial Establishments.3rd Edition.Department of Personnel and Training.Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, New Delhi.
Gupta, R., &Bisht, D. (2019).Awareness and incidents of occupational health hazards among female workers of small scale food processing units of Punjab state. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 11(1), 42-47.
Hemati, S., &Fadaei, A. (2020). Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice among Food Workers in Restaurants of Shahrekord, Iran. Annals Food Science and Technology, 21(1), 243-248.
https://www.ilo.org/topics/safety-and-health-work
https://www.who.int/health-topics/occupational-health
ICOH.(2022). ICOH statement on protecting the occupational safety and health of migrant workers. Safety and Health at Work. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2022.06.004
Jahangiri, M., Azmon, H., Daneshvar, A., Keshmiri, F., Khaleghi, H., Besharati, A., ...&Malakoutikhah, M. (2019). Occupational health problems and safety conditions among small and medium-sized enterprises: A cross-sectional study in Shiraz, Iran. Annals of Global Health, 85(1).
Lippert, J. F., Rosing, H., &Tendick-Matesanz, F. (2020). The health of restaurant work: A historical and social context to the occupational health of food service. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 73(6), 512-525.
Mahmoud, S. R., & Mohamed, A. A. (2021).Knowledge and Practice of Restaurants’ Workers Regarding Occupational Health Hazards and Safety Measures at Assiut University Restaurants. Assiut Scientific Nursing Journal, 9(27), 143-155.
Meswani, H. R. (2008). Safety and occupational health: challenges and opportunities in emerging economies. Indian journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 12(1), 3-9.
Oxenburg, M: Marlow, P: Oxenburg, A. (2004). Increasing productivity and profitability through Health and Safety. The financial Returns from a Safe Working Environment (Second Edition). CRC Press: London.
Park, K. (2021). Parks text book of preventive and social medicine (21st Ed.). M/S Banarsidas Bhanot Publishers P 606-621.
Sudhar, N. and Kausik, V. (2013). Musculoskeletal Problems among Agriculture Female workers, Studies on Home and Community Science. 7(3): 145-149
Tshoose, C., and Tsweledi, B. (2014). A critique of the protection afforded to non-standard workers in a temporary employment services context in South Africa. Law, Democracy & Development, 18(1), 334-346.
Verma, P., and Agarwal, S. (2021). Workplace hazard faced by vulnerable migrant workers working in the informal sector at Lucknow City. Journal of Ecophysiology and Occupational Health. https://doi.org/10.18311/JEOH/2021/26481