Occupational health hazards for the marble industry worker

Introduction

Occupational health hazards encompass workplace activities that pose the potential to induce or exacerbate the risk of injury or illness. These hazards are prevalent across various occupations, where workers encounter a myriad of potential risks. Such risks are not limited to specific job roles; rather, they permeate diverse work environments, contributing to the overall occupational health challenges faced by workers. (Selvi, 2020) [1]. One of the critical areas currently facing governmental negligence is the welfare of workers employed in the marble industry, who lack access to basic safety precautions against occupational hazards. There is an urgent necessity to identify and address the specific occupational health and safety (OHS) risks prevalent in this sector. The effectiveness of the OHS system is contingent upon the industry's scale and operations, necessitating tailored approaches for various contexts. Developing occupational health and safety management systems (OHS MS) for large-scale industries and complex organizations is comparatively less challenging than for small-scale enterprises, given their resource limitations and other constraints (Zahra et al., 2014) [2] . The stone and marble industry has had a notable adverse effect on public health, affecting both workers directly involved in the industry and residents living in its vicinity. This impact extends to the well-being of the surrounding environment and ecosystems. These repercussions stem from activities such as rock quarrying and crushing, large-scale stone cutting and polishing in stone-cutting facilities, transportation of rocks, as well as construction sites. (Salem, 2021) [3] . Individuals working in environments with high levels of dust face the risk of inhaling particulate materials, which can lead to adverse respiratory effects. All construction sites typically generate significant amounts of dust, stemming from materials such as concrete, silica, asbestos, cement, wood, stone, and sand. Workers are regularly exposed to this airborne dust. Inhaling dust and cement particles can lead to lung irritation, increased mucus production, and subsequent impairment of lung function. This can progress to conditions such as lung inflammation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), restrictive lung disease, pneumoconiosis, and more. Street sweeping is also associated with dust exposure. Workers involved in sweeping streets with brooms, as well as those exposed to dust from vehicular movement and other human activities, inhale considerable amounts of dust particles. This prolonged exposure can result in respiratory problems, lung cancer, and other types of cancer (Avasthi & Chavda, 2018) [4] . Occupational Health and Safety encompasses a range of disciplines, including epidemiology, industrial hygiene, occupational nursing, toxicology, engineering, and more. It addresses the conditions and environments that impact workers and other individuals in the workplace. Occupational Health and Safety practices play a vital role in improving productivity and reducing workplace accidents by providing ongoing guidance on worker performance (Vinod Kumar, 2005) [6] . The International Labor Organization (ILO) has emphasized that occupational accidents profoundly impact human lives, with an estimated 317 million occurring annually. Water pollution refers to the contamination of water bodies, which happens when pollutants are released directly or indirectly into them without sufficient treatment to remove harmful substances (Colic et al., 2010) [7] . Dust pollution originating from marble and cement presents numerous health hazards to workers, including respiratory issues, skin irritation, and eye problems. Depending on the chemical composition and concentration of the dust, workers may inhale silica-laden particles, putting them at risk of developing silicosis, a fatal lung condition. Exposure to substances such as flock and silica can lead to fibro sing lung diseases, while exposure to carcinogens like asbestos and beryllium can increase the risk of cancer. Numerous studies have investigated work-related respiratory symptoms and ventilatory disorders among cutting and cement workers. Silicosis, a form of pneumoconiosis, is an occupational lung disease resulting from inhaling crystalline silica dust. It is characterized by inflammation and scarring, forming nodular lesions primarily in the upper lobes of the lungs. Emphysema is another chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) variant.

Significance of the Study

Marble sector is highly competitive and holds significant global importance in socio-economic terms, providing employment opportunities to thousands of workers. The industry has experienced substantial growth and has become increasingly competitive. According to recent estimates from the International Labour Organization (ILO), approximately 2.78 million workers worldwide succumb to occupational accidents and workrelated diseases annually. Among these, 86.3% (approximately 2.4 million) of deaths are attributed to workrelated diseases, while over 13.7% (more than 380,000) result from occupational accidents. Non-fatal occupational injuries greatly outnumber fatal ones, with an estimated 374 million workers affected annually. Many of these injuries have severe long-term consequences for workers' earning capacity (Morgado et al., 2019) [5] .

Objective of the study

The objective of the study was to evaluate the occupational health risks faced by workers in marble and granite workshops located in Jaipur City.

Material and Methods

1. Study Area: Jaipur is renowned for its stunning beauty and marble rock formations. Located near Jaipur, Rajasthan, it is surrounded by small shops where marble cutting workers are regularly exposed to marble dust. The mechanical operations involved in cutting marble produce significant noise pollution and generate dust. Follow-up surveys and repeat assessments were conducted during the study. One hundred twenty workers were randomly selected from various shops in Jaipur using a simple random sampling method.

Workers were questioned about environmental conditions and their utilization of preventive measures through a set of questionnaires administered by a team of volunteers. 2. Inclusion Criteria: Our study included both male and female residents of Jaipur City who had been living there for durations ranging from 10 to 25 years. These individuals were employed in various marble shops and stone cutting establishments. 3. Exclusion Criteria: Subjects with pre-existing respiratory illnesses such as tuberculosis, emphysema, pneumonia, asthma, etc., were excluded from the study. Additionally, individuals who did not provide consent were also excluded. 4. Sampling procedure & Sample Size: In Jaipur city, there were a total of 25 sites employing marble workers. These workers were stratified into three groups to account for varying levels of dust exposure. The first stratum consisted of quarry pit workers, the second included those working at the crushing plant, and the third comprised mechanics and office workers. The total number of marble worker was randomly selected of 200 people.

Results and Discussion

General information of respondents General information about the subjects was collected through a structured interview schedule and is summarized below: Age: Table 1 Gender: Table 1 shows that the highest percentage, 65%, consists of males working in the marble industry, while 35% are females. 3 indicates that the most prevalent respiratory symptom among the workers was chest pain (26%), followed by weight loss (20%), shortness of breath (19%), loss of appetite (18%), and cough (17%). Table 4 shows that before the intervention, 20% of workers were using safety measures. Among them, 30% were using face masks, 25% were using aprons, 17% were using other devices, 15% were using gloves, and 13% were using spaces. After the educational intervention provided by investigators, around 80% of workers reported using various safety measures. Specifically, 36% were using aprons, 30% were using face masks, 13% were using gloves, 11% were using other devices, and 10% were using spaces..

Education qualification:

References

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4. Avasthi R, Chavda A. Effectiveness of SelfInstructional Module on Knowledge Regarding Prevention and Management of Occupational Health Hazzards Among Marble Factory Workers In Selected Marble Factories At Udaipur city, Rajasthan. IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science (IOSR-JNHS). 2018;7(1):76-80. E-ISSN: 2320-1959. P-ISSN: 23201940.
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