Working Hazards and Health Problems among Rubber Farmers in Thailand

Authors

  • Pimpisa SAKSORNGMUANG Department of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
  • Orawan KAEWBOONCHOO Department of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
  • Ratchneewan ROSS Family and Community Department, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
  • Plernpit BOONYAMALIK Department of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48048/wjst.2020.6075

Keywords:

Rubber farmers, working hazards, work environment, health problem

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the working hazards and health problems among rubber farmers in the southern part of Thailand. A cross-sectional survey questionnaire was employed to identify the workers’ working hazards and health problems, workers’ postures, and the measurement of the intensity of light, lung function, and eye vision. Results indicated that 45.5 % of the rubber farmers were exposed to a chemical substance, 87 % were exposed to a scorpion, and 27.6 % had a high job strain. Furthermore, 43.8 % of the rubber farmers had a high ergonomic risk when collecting the rubber latex. However, the intensity of the headlamp had met the standard. Findings also revealed some common health problems among rubber farmers. These were musculoskeletal disorders (87.7 %), depression symptoms (15.7 %), and hand eczema (8.9 %). Additionally, nearly half of the Thai rubber farmers had an accident at work (45.1 %, while 22 % reported to have bitten by a poisonous animal. Lastly, 78.4 % of the rubber farmers had a low level of visual requirement and half of them had an abnormal lung function (57.2 %). These findings suggest a need for work process modifications to prevent health hazard in Thai rubber farmers.

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Published

2019-07-10

How to Cite

SAKSORNGMUANG, P. ., KAEWBOONCHOO, O. ., ROSS, R., & BOONYAMALIK, P. . (2019). Working Hazards and Health Problems among Rubber Farmers in Thailand. Walailak Journal of Science and Technology (WJST), 17(3), 222–236. https://doi.org/10.48048/wjst.2020.6075