HEALTH RISKS OF INDUSTRIAL EXPOSURE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY AMONG FACTORY WORKERS IN SOUTH ASIA

Abstract

This cross-sectional research is based on exploring the health risks of factory workers in South Asia, which is aimed to examine the effect of factory exposure to different hazardous environments. The research gathered the data of the workers of diverse sectors, evaluating the cases of respiratory illnesses, musculoskeletal trauma, skin illnesses and psychological strain. Through this in-depth analysis it was revealed that there was a strong association between sustained exposure to dust, chemicals and mechanical hazard with the development of respiratory diseases, such as chronic bronchitis and asthma. There were higher musculoskeletal disorders especially of the back and the joints in those workers who were engaged in a manual labor or repetitive work. Moreover, workers who worked with chemicals or had to work in harsh industrial settings tended to have skin conditions like dermatitis. The research also pointed out a very high level of psychological stress in the form of anxiety and depression that was associated with the long working hours, poor work-life balance, and insufficient safety precautions. These revelations highlight the necessity to have better occupational health policies, enhanced safety practices, and psychological support networks to reduce the health hazards of industrial exposure in South Asia.