Health Risk Assessment from Rubber Farming Activities in Nongsang District, Udonthani Province

Abstract

The objective of this research is to perform a health risk assessment from work of
rubber farmers in Nongsang District, Udonthani Province. Data collection involved
interviews with 114 rubber famers, during March and April, 2011. The data were
analyzed by determination of statistics, percentage, average and standard
deviation. Of the 114 rubber farmers, were male 67.5% , with an average age of
48.9 11.0 years. The average area for growing rubber trees is 20.7 Rai per family
(Rai = a unit of area equivalent to 1,600 square meters or 0.4 acre). There were 5
steps for rubber farming activities: first, plant the rubber trees; econd, eradicate
weeds; third, apply fertilizer for rubber trees; fourth, slit trees trunks to obtain
rubber sap; and finally, produce rubber sheets. The main issue for physical health
hazard was heat an exposure to sunlight during the growing phase. The main issue
for chemical health hazard was exposure to formic acid during the rubber sheet
production phase. Main issues for biological health hazards are exposure to
mosquitoes and other insects in the trunk slitting phase. The main issue for
ergonomic health hazards is repetitive hand and wrist motion in the trunk slitting
step. The results of this health risk assessment show that, for physical health
hazards, there is high risk for rubber farmers from manure dust exposure. As for
the health risk from chemical health hazards, there is high risk for the rubber
farmers from formic acid exposure. Regarding the health risk from biological
health hazards, there is a high risk from exposure to mosquitoes and other insects
in both the planting and sheet production phase. The health risks from ergonomics
health hazards, include a high risk of injury from repetitive hand and wrist use and
from working with the arms above shoulder height during trunk slitting. There is
also a risk of injury from repetitive squatting during the planting phase. The level
of knowledge about rubber farming activities, is at a medium level is 64.0% of the
rubber farmers. The suggestions for health risk management are: use appropriate
person protective equipment (PPE) in pest and weed irradiation; arrange meetings
for providing rubber farmers knowledge in chemical use an ergonomics.