Professional paper
On working conditions and morbidity pattern of hemp workers
P. Mudrinić
; Institut za zdravstvenu zaštitu, Zavod za higijenu i medicinu rada, Novi Sad
Abstract
An investigation of the working and health conditions of workers employed in nine hemp factories in Autonomous Province of Voivodina has been undertaken. The physico-chemical study of the working conditions included the examinations of the microclimate, illumination, noise and dust as an air pollutant. These examinations were performed by standard methods and equipment. Data about workers' occupational, personal and family history as well as about their socio-economic status were collected. The workers were clinically examined and taken an X-ray of the lungs. Laboratory analyses of the biological material were also performed. The working conditions were found unsatisfactory because of the old buildings, old-fashioned technological processes, inadequate way of heating in the winter time, insufficient ventilation and illumination. As particularly harmful were found hard physical work, non-physiological position during work, a high percentage of hemp dust in the air and low temperature in the winter time. In total 726 workers were examined (52% women, 48% men) the majority being between 25 and 44 years of age {68,18%) with 5-9 years of work experience. There was only a small number of workers who worked for more than 20 years. The following II diseases were found: conjunctivitis chr. simplex - 23,30%, varices cruris - 18,50%, bronchitis chr. - 17,60%, diseases of the digestive tract - 17,20%, low back pain and ischias - 14,70%, rheumatismus chr. - 10,02%, pharyngitis chr. - 9,76%, heart diseases - 9,35%, tonsillitis chr. catarrhalis - 8,95%, pes planus - 8,40% and hypertensio arterialis - 7,85%. Among the above diseases 650/o was discovered for the first time. These diseases mostly have a chronic progressive course leading to decrease of work capacity and workers' early retirement to pension. The etiology of these diseases is discussed in connection with environmental working conditions
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
175262
URI
Publication date:
17.9.1969.
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