DETERMINANTS OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE FOCUS OF WELDERS

Year 2024, , 68 - 79, 31.01.2024

Merve Demirci Atik , Alp Ergör , Aylin Güngör Çifci , Ahmet Naci Emecen , Abdullah Taylan , Naciye Sinem Gezer , Eyüp Sabri Uçan

https://doi.org/10.35232/estudamhsd.1384309

Abstract

The welding industry is known for having significant occupational health risks. For this reason, the occupational hazards of welders have been previously examined by many researchers in the literature. However, the traditional hazards-outcomes focused analyses do not show the big picture in which occupational health and safety (OHS) is neglected due to global competitive conditions. Therefore, it may be important to define the determinants of OHS that deepen inequalities, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between OHS indicators and OHS determinants among welders in a developing country. In this descriptive study, the data were collected from 88 welders by telephone interview. Health outcomes were also confirmed from clinical records. In addition to the indicators of OHS, independent variables such as education level, sector, business size, union membership, security, wage, weekly working hours, etc were investigated in the study. According to the results, the work accident rate was higher in welders who started their careers as a child. Leading OHS indicators were found to be significantly worse in the working environments of those with low education, low wages, workers in the private sector and who are non-unionized. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between being unionised and high education level, high socioeconomic development (SED) level, business size, and working in the public sector. There was a negative correlation between union membership and weekly working hours. Since the concept of OHS is related to many factors, working life should be considered from a holistic perspective.

Keywords

Occupational health, OHS determinants, social determinants of health, labor union, welders

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was obtained from the local ethics committee of Dokuz Eylül University (No: 2022/21-10).

Supporting Institution

No financial support has been received for this article.

KAYNAKÇILARIN ODAĞINDA İŞ SAĞLIĞI VE GÜVENLİĞİNİN BELİRLEYİCİLERİ

Abstract

Kaynak sektörünün önemli iş sağlığı riskleri taşıdığı bilinmektedir. Bu nedenle kaynakçıların mesleki tehlikeleri, literatürde birçok araştırmacı tarafından daha önce incelenmiştir. Ancak geleneksel tehlike-sonuç odaklı yaklaşım küresel rekabet koşulları gereği iş sağlığı ve güvenliğinin (İSG) ihmal edildiği büyük resmi göstermemektedir. Bu nedenle özellikle gelişmekte olan ülkelerde eşitsizlikleri derinleştiren İSG belirleyicilerinin tanımlanması önemli olabilir. Bu çalışma, gelişmekte olan bir ülkedeki kaynakçılar arasında İSG göstergeleri ile İSG belirleyicileri arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesini amaçlamıştır. Tanımlayıcı nitelikteki bu çalışmada, veriler 88 kaynakçıdan telefon görüşmesiyle toplandı. Sağlık sonuçları klinik kayıtlardan doğrulandı. Çalışmada İSG'nin öncül ve ardıl göstergelerinin yanında, bağımsız değişken olarak; eğitim düzeyi, sektör, işletme büyüklüğü, sendika üyeliği, güvence, ücret, haftalık çalışma saatleri vb. sorgulandı. Sonuçlara göre çocuk yaşta mesleğe başlayan kaynakçılarda iş kazası oranı daha yüksekti. Öncül İSG göstergelerinin düşük eğitim düzeyine sahip olan kaynakçılarda, aylık maaşı düşük olanlarda, özel sektörde çalışanlarda ve sendikasız olanlarda anlamlı derecede kötü olduğu görüldü. Ayrıca sendikalı olma durumu ile; yüksek eğitim düzeyi, doğum yerinin yüksek sosyo-ekonomik gelişmişliği (SEG), işletme büyüklüğü ve kamuda çalışma arasında pozitif yönde anlamlı bir korelasyon bulundu. Sendika üyeliği ile haftalık çalışma saatleri arasında negatif bir korelasyon vardı. İSG kavramı birçok faktörle ilişkili olduğundan çalışma yaşamının bütünsel bir bakış açısıyla ele alınması gerekmektedir.

Keywords

İş sağlığı, İSG belirleyicileri, sağlığın sosyal belirleyicileri, sendika, kaynakçı

References

• CSDH. Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on the social determinants of health. Final Report of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health. [Internet]. Geneva; 2008. Available from: https://www.who.int/ publications/i/item/WHO-IER-CSDH-08.1
• Wipfli B, Wild S, Richardson DM, Hammer L. Work as a Social Determinant of Health: A Necessary Foundation for Occupational Health and Safety. J Occup Environ Med [Internet]. 2021 Nov 1 [cited 2023 Aug 18];63(11):e830-3. Available from: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/3445 6326
• Fujishiro K, Ahonen EQ, Gimeno Ruiz de Porras D, Chen IC, Benavides FG. Sociopolitical values and social institutions: Studying work and health equity through the lens of political economy. SSM - Popul Heal [Internet]. 2021 Apr 1 [cited 2023 Apr 12];14:1-8. Available from: https://reader.elsevier. com/reader/sd/pii/S2352827321000628 ?token=77BB3EFEB5BA5EAC4F2AC1 EC67AA0BABDADDBCA30826B99842 C91B1B8D471196742CC1F46956B849 4F9E7D291713974C&originRegion=euwest-1&originCreation=20230412070231
• LaDou J. International occupational health. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2003 Jan 1;206(4–5):303-13.
• Nuwayhid IA. Occupational health research in developing countries: a partner for social justice. Am J Public Health. 2004;94(11):1916-21.
• Itiakorit B, Zziwa EB, Osuret J. Prevalence and determinants of occupational Injuries among welders in small scale metal workshops in Wakiso District, Uganda. East African Heal Res J [Internet]. 2021 Jun 15 [cited 2023 Apr 12];5(1):106-12. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/343082 52/
• Fenn P, Ashby S. Workplace Risk, Establishment Size and Union Density. Br J Ind Relations [Internet]. 2004 Sep 1 [cited 2023 Aug 18];42(3):461-80. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley. com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1467-8543.2004.0 0325.x
• International Labour Office and United Nations Children’s Fund Methodology of the 2020 ILO-UNICEF Global Estimates of Child Labour [Internet]. New York; 2022 [cited 2023 Aug 17]. Available from: https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/child-lab our/publications/WCMS_858553/lang--e n/index.htm
• Guha N, Loomis D, Guyton KZ, Grosse Y, El Ghissassi F, Bouvard V, et al. Carcinogenicity of welding, molybdenum trioxide, and indium tin oxide. Lancet Oncol [Internet]. 2017 May 1 [cited 2023 Apr 12];18(5):581-2. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/284082 86/
• Simiyu SW, Cholo W. Dynamics of occupational injuries among metal workers in Kamukunji Jua Kali Market, Nairobi, Kenya. Int J Acad Res Dev [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2023 Apr 12];1(12):1-7. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication /329443346
• Awosan KJ, Makusidi MA, Ibrahim MTOM, Suleiman A, Magaji T, Mbatifuh F. Knowledge and safety practices related to exposure to physical and chemical hazards among welders in Sokoto, Nigeria. Asian J Med Heal [Internet]. 2017 Dec 20 [cited 2023 Apr 12];9(1):1-11. Available from: file:///C:/Users/merve/Downloads/Knowl edgeandsafetypracticesrelatedtoexposu retophysicalandchemicalhazardsamong weldersinSokotoNigeria.pdf
• Yiin JH, Schubauer-Berigan MK, Silver SR, Daniels RD, Kinnes GM, Zaebst DD, et al. Risk of lung cancer and leukemia from exposure to ionizing radiation and potential confounders among workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Radiat Res [Internet]. 2005 Jun [cited 2023 Apr 12];163(6):603-13. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/159133 92/
• Tenkate TD. Ocular ultraviolet radiation exposure of welders. Scand J Work Environ Health [Internet]. 2017 May [cited 2023 Apr 12];43(3):287-8. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/28295119/
• Barkhordari A, Zare Sakhvidi MJ, Zare Sakhvidi F, Halvani G, Firoozichahak A, Shirali G. Cancer risk assessment in welder’s under different exposure scenarios. Iran J Public Health [Internet]. 2014 [cited 2023 Apr 12];43(5):666-73. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/26060768/
• Heltoft K, Slagor RM, Agner T, Bonde JP. Metal arc welding and the risk of skin cancer. Int Arch Occup Environ Health [Internet]. 2017 [cited 2023 Apr 12];90:873-81. Available from: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1 007/s00420-017-1248-5.pdf
• Lei S, Liu SY, Zhang Y, Jiang DJ, Xin JR, Zhao TY, et al. [Survey on present status of noise exposure of workers in metal processing industry]. Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi [Internet]. 2021 Jul 20 [cited 2023 Apr 12];39(7):540-3. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/343657 69/
• Honaryar MK, Lunn RM, Luce D, Ahrens W, T’Mannetje A, Hansen J, et al. Welding fumes and lung cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies. Occup Environ Med [Internet]. 2019 Jun 1 [cited 2023 Apr 12];76(6):422-31. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/309485 21/
• Sheehan C, Donohue R, Shea T, Cooper B, De Cieri H. Leading and lagging indicators of occupational health and safety: The moderating role of safety leadership. Accid Anal Prev [Internet]. 2016 Jul 1 [cited 2023 Apr 12];92:130-8. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/27060754/
• Acar S, Bilen Kazancık L, Meydan MC, Işık M. İllerin ve bölgelerin sosyo-ekonomik gelişmişlik sıralaması araştırması SEGE-2017 [Internet]. Ankara; 2019 Dec [cited 2023 Apr 12]. Available from: https://www.sanayi.gov. tr/merkez-birimi/b94224510b7b/sege/il-s ege-raporlari
• Enterprises by business size - OECD Data [Internet]. [cited 2023 Apr 12]. Available from: https://data.oecd.org/ entrepreneur/enterprises-by-business-size.html
• Lange KW. Rudolf Virchow, poverty and global health: from “politics as medicine on a grand scale” to “health in all policies.” Glob Heal J [Internet]. 2021 Sep 1 [cited 2023 Apr 12];5(3):149-54. Available from: https://www. sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S24 14644721000646
• Taylor R, Rieger A. Medicine as social science: Rudolf Virchow on the typhus epidemic in Upper Silesia. Int J Health Serv [Internet]. 1985 [cited 2023 Apr 12];15(4):547-59. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/390834 7/
• Flynn MA, Eggerth DE, Jacobson CJ. Undocumented status as a social determinant of occupational safety and health: The workers’ perspective. Am J Ind Med [Internet]. 2015 Nov 1 [cited 2023 Apr 12];58(11):1127–37. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/26471878/
• Peckham T, Fujishiro K, Hajat A, Flaherty BP, Seixas N. Evaluating employment quality as a determinant of health in a changing labor market. Russell Sage Found J Soc Sci RSF [Internet]. 2019 Sep [cited 2023 Apr 12];5(4):281. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/31548990/
• Johansson M, Partanen T. Role of trade unions in workplace health promotion. Int J Health Serv [Internet]. 2002 [cited 2023 Apr 12];32(1):179-93. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/119138 56/
• Republic of Turkey Ministry of Labor and Social Security, official newspaper. Statistics of January 2023 [Internet]. [cited 2023 Apr 12]. Available from: https://resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2023/0 1/20230119-4.pdf
• Le AB, Wong SW, Lin HC, Smith TD. The association between union membership and perceptions of safety climate among US adult workers. Saf Sci [Internet]. 2021 Jan 1 [cited 2023 Apr 12];133:1-10. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/33052171/
• Holman CDAJ, Corti B, Donovan RJ, Jalleh G. Association of the health-promoting workplace with trade unionism and other industrial factors. Am J Health Promot [Internet]. 1998 [cited 2023 Apr 12];12(5):325-34. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/10181142/
• Kollmeyer C. Who joins trade unions? Testing new sociological explanations. Comp Sociol [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2023 Apr 12];12(4):548-74. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication /275454107_Who_Joins_Trade_Unions _Testing_New_Sociological_Explanations
• Teker T, Gençdoğan D. Work accidents and safety precautions occurred in welding vocational in Turkey. Adıyaman Üniversitesi Mühendislik Bilim Derg [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2023 Apr 12];12:34-44. Available from: https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/articl e-file/1135884
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by industry and case types, 2020 [Internet]. [cited 2023 Apr 12]. Available from: https://www.bls.gov/web/ osh/summ1_00.htm
• Shaikh TQ, Bhojani FA. Occupational injuries and perception of hazards among road-side welding workers. J Pakistan Med Assoc [Internet]. 1991 Aug [cited 2023 Apr 12];41(8):187-8. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/1942480/
• Amani F, Bahadoram M, Hazrati S. Evaluation of occupational injuries among welders in Northwest Iran. J Prev Epidemiol [Internet]. 2017 Jun [cited 2023 Apr 12];2(2):1-5. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication /317687379_Evaluation_of_occupationa l_injuries_among_welders_in_Northwest _Iran
• Andreotti G, Lange JL, Brundage JF. The nature, incidence, and impact of eye injuries among US military personnel: implications for prevention. Arch Ophthalmol (Chicago, Ill 1960) [Internet]. 2001 Nov [cited 2023 Apr 12];119(11):1693-7. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/117090 22/
• Meo S, Al-khlaiwi T. Health hazards of welding fumes. Saudi Med J [Internet]. 2003 Nov [cited 2023 Apr 12];24(11):1176-82. Available from: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/ Health-hazards-of-welding-fumes.-MeoAl-khlaiwi/d51edb1dd3df260499ea7025 e3a4b1e79cfc52ab
• Falcone LM, Zeidler-Erdely PC. Skin cancer and welding. Clin Exp Dermatol [Internet]. 2019 Mar 1 [cited 2023 Apr 12];44(2):130-4. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/302804 17/
• Thiede I, Thiede M. Quantifying the costs and benefits of occupational health and safety interventions at a Bangladesh shipbuilding company. Int J Occup Environ Health [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2023 Apr 12];21(2):127-36. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/25589369/
• Riaño-Casallas MI, Tompa E. Cost-benefit analysis of investment in occupational health and safety in Colombian companies. Am J Ind Med [Internet]. 2018 Nov [cited 2023 Apr 12];61(11):893-900. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/302843 13/
• Bayram M, Ünğan MC, Ardıç K. The relationships between OHS prevention costs, safety performance, employee satisfaction and accident costs. Int J Occup Saf Ergon [Internet]. 2017 Jun 23 [cited 2023 Apr 12];23(2):285-96. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/27667202/
• Mandal AK. Strategies and policies deteriorate occupational health situation in India: A review based on social determinant framework. Indian J Occup Environ Med [Internet]. 2009 Sep 1 [cited 2023 Apr 12];13(3):113-20. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/20442828/
• Ståhl T. Health in All Policies: From rhetoric to implementation and evaluation - the Finnish experience. Scand J Public Health [Internet]. 2018 Feb 1 [cited 2023 Apr 12];46(20_suppl):38-46. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/295529 65/