Association of Personal Protective Equipments with Respiratory Morbidity among Puffed Rice Workers of Davanagere City

Abstract

Introduction : Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) are designed to protect employees from various workplace injuries or illnesses which resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical or other workplace hazards. The protection of workers from workplace hazards is crucial to reduce mortality and morbidity. These morbidities and mortalities will occur long after the workman has left the work.Methods: A Cross sectional study was conducted among puffed rice workers in Bashanagar, urban field practice area of SSIMS & RC, Davanagere from January to December 2017. The study population included 550 puffed rice unit workers. Data was entered in the Microsoft excel and analysed using SPSS v20. Results:In this study majority of the workers (93.4%) were non users of any personal protective equipments. In this study Respiratory morbidity was higher among non-users of personal protective equipment but no statistical significant association was found between personal protective equipment and respiratory morbidity. Conclusions:In present study no significant association was found between respiratory morbidity and personal protective equipments.