FREQUENCY OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AMONG COAL MINERS

Background: coal mining is considered as one of the dangerous occupations globally and poses many health problems to coal miners due to production and dispersion of fine coal dusts. this study was conducted with the objective to find the frequency of various occupational health problems and to recommend measures to reduce high morbidity and mortality among coal miners. material & methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted at department of community medicine, pak international medical college, peshawar, pakistan, among 400 coal miners of cherat, district nowshera of khyber pakthumkhwa, pakistan from july 2012 to june 2013. coal miners with more than six months job were included. data collection through questionnaire was accompanied by history, general physical examination and investigations. the demographic variables were age, duration of coal mining, job satisfaction, history of smoking and previous mine injuries and illness. descriptive statistics were applied. spss version 17 was used for data analysis. results: more than half of coal workers suffered from signs and symptoms of various occupational health problems with varying frequencies including musculoskeletal (n=243), respiratory (n=209), gastrointestinal (n=191), nervous (n=91), dermatological (n=167), ear (n=116), nose & throat (n=134) and eye problems (n=140). conclusion: the frequency of various occupational health problems is high among coal miners, involving almost every system of the body. it is suggested that education and training be provided to the coal miners, pre-placement and periodic medical examinations be arranged, dust control measures be adopted and their compliance be monitored