Respiratory Diseases
Conditions
Keywords
lung function, ergonomic hazards, marble factory workers
Brief summary
Marble cutting exposes workers to dust, increasing risk of lung diseases like asthma, COPD, silicosis, and asbestosis. Many marble cutters in rural areas lack awareness of these risks and work without proper protection. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has over 4000 marble factories employing over a million laborers, mostly unskilled and vulnerable. Workers face health risks from heavy lifting, poor posture, and respirable dust. Ergonomic disorders are also common due to poorly designed workstations, repetitive motions, and straining postures. Musculoskeletal Symptoms (MSS) can progress into Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), affecting worker well-being and productivity. Findings can inform targeted educational programs and interventions to improve respiratory health and reduce ergonomic risks in the marble industry.
Detailed description
Occupational hazards, such as dust exposure during marble cutting, can significantly increase the risk of lung diseases in workers. This includes common ailments such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), as well as more serious conditions such as silicosis and asbestosis. Unfortunately, many marble cutters from rural areas may not be aware of these health risks, which can lead to them working without proper protection. Heavy load lifting, poor work posture, and the production of respirable dust in marble factories contribute to the health risks faced by these workers. Just like dust exposure during marble cutting can harm a worker's lungs, similarly, working in this industry carries a high risk of ergonomic disorders. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ergonomic risk factors are responsible for 35% of workplace injuries in 2021, resulting in MSDs. An extensive amount of research has been conducted globally; however, limited literature exists on this particular topic in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, specifically in Peshawar. The findings of the study can help inform the development and implementation of targeted educational programs and interventions aimed at improving respiratory health and reducing ergonomic risks in the marble industry.
Interventions
OTHEREducational Intervention Program for machine workers
A detailed Educational Intervention Program for marble factory workers working on Machines.
OTHEREducational Intervention Program for manual workers
A detailed Educational Intervention Program for marble factory workers working manually.
Sponsors
Riphah International University
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
20 Years to 55 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adult male marble factory workers, * Age 20-55years * Working for more than 1year * Working time(hours): minimum 06 hours daily
Exclusion criteria
* Workers with pre-existing lung diseases * Workers with any other occupational hazard * Workers who are not willing to participate in the study
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) | 4 weeks | Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measured through digital spirometer. Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) measured through digital spirometer. Three zones of measurement are commonly used to interpret peak flow rates. Normal value of PEFR is (80-100%). Green zone indicates 80 to 100 percent of the usual or normal peak flow reading, yellow zone indicates 50 to 79 percent of the usual or normal peak flow readings, and red zone indicates less than 50 percent of the usual or normal peak flow readings. |
| Forced vital capacity (FVC) | 4 weeks | Forced vital capacity (FVC) measured through digital spirometer. If the value of FVC is within 80% of the reference value, the results are considered normal. |
| Forced expiratory volume in 1sec (FEV1) | 4 weeks | Forced expiratory volume in 1sec (FEV1) measured through digital spirometer. If the value of FEV1 is within 80% of the reference value, the results are considered normal |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) | 4 Weeks | RULA evaluates the exposure to posture and force/external load as well as repeated and static posture effects. |
| Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) | 4 Weeks | REBA evaluates the exposure to posture and force/external load as well as repeated and static posture effects. The REBA has two additional assessment factors of coupling and dynamic loading effects, compared to the RULA |
Countries
Pakistan
Outcome results
None listed