Assessment of Occupational Health due to Wood Dust Exposure among the SawmillWorkers in the State of Kerala

Introduction: Sawmill workers are continuously exposed to various hazards and subsequent health problems. A workplace hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control measures will reduce the rate of morbidity and mortality. Risk assessment of the prevailing hazards and theunsafe behavior among workers is a significant approach to identify risk source and reduce occupational injuries and even accidents in the workplace. Objectives: This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of dust exposure to the occupational health of Sawmill workers in State of Kerala. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the level of knowledge and health and safety practices in the context of dust exposure among ninesaw mill workers in the saw mills located in Kochuveli and Kilippalam in Trivandrum, Kerala, India. Data was collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, key informant interviews and walk-through survey between March 2021 and November 2021. Findings: The results revealed that the wood dust exposures of workers in urban areas are more prone to dust hazards in comparison with coastal areas. Conclusions: The study concluded that sawmill workers have higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and reduced pulmonary function due to exposure to wood dust compared with non-exposed population.This study also concluded that sawmill workers awareness about wood dust as hazards was high but usage of PPE was very low.