Perception towards Occupational Hazards and Usage of Personal Protective Equipment among Roadside Welders

Abstract

The study is designed to assess the health related problems in welders, their awareness level towards hazards and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in India. 102 welders were selected for a study using random sampling in Punjab (India). Semi structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic data like age, educational level, work experience, smoking habits etc. Data related to respiratory disorders and ‘eye injuries and eye diseases’, awareness of hazards, safety measures and their usage were documented. The findings of the study revealed that the average age of subjects was 35.93 years which means majority of welders were experienced. It was found that approximately 56% of welders had more than 10 years of exposure, 16% of welders had less than 5 years of exposure and 29% of welders had between 5 and 10 years of exposure. Approximately 36% of welders had cough, 27% welders reported chronic bronchitis and 21% reported phlegm. Further, itching, redness of eyes and blurry vision after welding were most prominent symptoms reported by 91, 86 and 70% welders respectively, while excess tearing in 28% of welders was the least reported symptom. Major hazards present at different working sites are fumes, gasses, radiations, vibrations and heat. Masks and welding goggles were most commonly preferred PPEs, whereas hand gloves were least used.