Occupational health hazards and health status related to risk among workers in auto body repair shops, Amphoe Mueang, Phitsanulok Province

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine occupational health hazards and health status related to risk of workers in auto body repair shops. Data were collected from 150 workers of 16 auto body repair shops in Amphoe Mueang, Phitsanulok Province using questionnaires covering personal characteristics, occupational health hazards and health status related to risk. The data were analyzed using descriptive statis¬tics: mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage. Fifty two percent of workers perceived their occu¬pational health hazard exposure as high level. With regard to the highest health status related to risk which were divided into 4 hazards: (1) Physical hazard was fingers/hands pain, 48.70%; (2) Chemical hazard was headache, 36.70%; (3) Psychosocial hazard was feeling tired from work, 60.70%; and (4) Ergonomic hazard was lower back pain during the past 7 days and the past 12 months, 38.70% and 30.70% respec¬tively. The results indicated that workers of auto body repair shops had a chance to expose occupational health hazards and could cause their health problems related to the risk. As a first priority, the involved agencies should draw attention to both environmental and health surveillance in order to improve their health care and safety operational environment.