Volume 6

Number 1, January 2024

An analysis on the relationship between safety measures and dermatological complaints among printing industry workers in Bangladesh

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47648/zhswmcj.2024.v0601.02

Muhammad Abdul Hadi Khan1 , Nobuyuki Hamajima2 , Tetsuyoshi Kariya3 , Laila Afroz4 , Shoara Yasmin5 , Md Golam Abbas6

Abstract

Background: Work-related skin diseases occupy approximately 50 percent of total occupational illnesses and areresponsible for an estimated 25 percent of all lost workdays globally in many industries including printing industries.This study aimed to reveal the characteristics of dermatological problems and safety measures among printing workersin Bangladesh. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 196 conveniently sampledprinting workers from 51 factories in September 2018. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. A logistic regression model was applied to estimate the risk factors for dermatologicalproblems. Results: Among 196 respondents 74.0% experienced dermatological problems after joining a printingjob. Only 30.1% of respondents were found using personal protective equipment (PPE). No use of PPE, barriercream, hand washing more than 4 times a day, and duty in the printing process had a significant association with skinproblems (P<0.001). In the printing process, the workers who handled papers, chemicals, and machines and wereinvolved in cleaning machinery had a higher prevalence of dermatological problems. Logistic regression analysisshowed a significant association of skin problems among printing workers in Bangladesh with male (OR 0.23; 95%CI 0.06–0.98), higher monthly salaries (OR 17.98; 95% CI 3.14–103.08) and shorter daily work hours (OR 0.01;95% CI 0.01–0.56). Conclusion: This study revealed a high prevalence of dermatological problems among printingworkers in Bangladesh. PPE usage, avoiding excessive hand washing, and hand cream would be helpful in avoidingdermatological problems among printing workers in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Dermatological problem, printing worker, safety measure.


  1. Assistant Professor (Dental Public Health) and Deputy Program Manager (Admin & Finance), National TB Control Program (NTP)

    Leprosy Hospital Compound, TB Gate, Mohakhali, Dhaka

  2. Professor and Head (Ex), Department of Healthcare Administration

    Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

  3. Professor, Department of Healthcare Administration, Nephrology & Internal Medicine

    Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

  4. Junior consultant (Dermatology & Venereology)

    Institute of Leprosy Control & Hospital, Dhaka

  5. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH)

    National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), Dhaka

  6. Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH)

    National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), Dhaka

Download PDF File Cite

Volume 6, Number 1, January 2024
Page: 10-15