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Med. Pr. 2001;52(6)

Health risk among workers employed in rubber footwear plant

Ryzyko zdrowotne wśród pracowników zakładu obuwia gumowego

Z. Szubert, U. Wilczyńska, W. Sobala

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the health risk of workers performing specific jobs in the process of the rubber footwear production by defining the cause and length of temporary work disability, as well as mortality causes and level. The analysis was carried out in the groups of workers performing the following jobs: mixing, mill operation, pressing and vulcanizing (A); semi-product preparation and calendering (B); finishing and sorting (C); production of polyvinyl chloride footwear (D); and auxiliary works (E).
The sickness absence study covered all workers (208 men and 315 women) employed in a large rubber footwear company and performing all above-listed jobs in 1995. Standardized sick days ratio was used to analyze the risk of temporary work disability. Mortality rate was estimated on the basis of the results of the cohort study performed in the same company among workers who had worked at least three months during the years 1945-1985. The follow-up continued until 31 December 1997. The present study included sub-cohorts composed of 5628 men and 7197 women, performing jobs listed above.
The results of both studies indicated the enhanced risk of cardiovascular diseases among workers employed in the basic phases of the production process. The increased risk of the diseases of the digestive system was observed in men and women employed in: finishing, sorting and packing of the products (group C); in men involved in mixing, pressing and vulcanizing (group A); and in women engaged in auxiliary works (group E). In addition, the enhanced risk of sickness absence due to the diseases of the respiratory, digestive, or genitourinary systems was related to the enhanced risk of death from malignant neoplasms in a given site.
The analysisshowed that the temporary work disability may be regarded as a parameter useful in early assessment of health effects of the work environmental hazards.

Key words

sickness absence, mortality, rubber workers, cohort study