**3. Results**

## **3.1 Work related characteristics of tannery workers**

The work-related characteristics of tannery workers are presented in **Table 1**. Tannery operations was categorized into four broad categories: Beam house work (8% of workers in a tannery unit), wet finishing (25%), dry finishing (50%), and miscellaneous work (17%).

We collected information on total work experience (in the present job and previous ones) in tanneries. Around 15 percent of the tannery workers surveyed were engaged in the occupation for more than 20 years, and about one-third of workers were involved for 20 years in the tannery occupation. Most of the workers (89%) were working as daily wage laborers, while only 11 percent were permanent employees. Over one-fourth (27%) worked for 11 to 12 hours a day, and 52 percent reported that they worked for all seven days in the week.

The nature of the work done is shown in **Figure 1**. For this study, the job contract was divided into two categories—temporary (daily wages) and permanent. Most workers were engaged in works on a temporary basis. In the beam house, where the work is particularly hazardous, 96 percent of the workers were employed temporarily, with permanent employees making up the remainder. The nature of the job contract was heavily skewed in the other sections also: wet finishing work (84% and 16 percent respectively of temporary and permanent workers), dry finishing (89% and 11%), and miscellaneous work (94% and 6%).

**81**

**environment**

**Table 1.**

*Responsiveness of Occupational Health Risk and Preventive Measures Practice by the Workers…*

**Variables Percentage (%) Number (N)**

Beam house 8.4 24 Wet finishing 24.5 70 Dry finishing 50.4 142 Miscellaneous 16.7 48

Up to 5 years 34.3 96 6 to 10 years 33.5 96 11 to 20 years 22.4 64 20+ years 9.8 28

Up to 5 years 43.4 43 6 to 10 years 38.4 38 11 to 20 years 13.1 13 20+ years 5.1 5

Temporary job (daily wages) 89.2 253 Permanent job 10.8 31

7 to 8 hours 47.2 134 9 to 10 hours 25.5 73 11 to 12 hours 27.3 77

Six days in a week 48.3 137 Seven days in a week 51.7 147 **Total 100.0 284**

**3.2 Awareness about the exposure of hazardous chemicals and work** 

Workers' awareness of hazards involve in tannery operation is presented in **Table 2**. About 79 percent of the workers in the age group of 16–24 years agreed with the statement that "tannery work is very hazardous in nature" found to be highest. Awareness of the above statement varies from 73 to 93 percent for the educational attainment, religion, caste, media exposure, and standard of living index among the tannery workers. It was found that tannery workers having a middle-school level of education were 3.01 times more likely to be aware of the hazards as compared to the illiterate or less educated ones. Those with a comparatively higher standard of living were 2.08 times more likely to agree that "tannery work is very hazardous in nature" than those having a lower standard of living. Agreement with the statement that "tannery workers work in the very hazardous work environment" ranges from 55 to 79 percent for the predictors such as age,

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95110*

**Type of job within tannery occupation**

**Work experience in current tannery**

**Work experience in previous tannery**

**Type of job contract**

**Working hours in day**

**Working days in a week**

*Work related characteristics of tannery workers.*


*Responsiveness of Occupational Health Risk and Preventive Measures Practice by the Workers… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95110*

#### **Table 1.**

*Occupational Wellbeing*

**2.2 Data analysis**

**3. Results**

miscellaneous work (17%).

2Dermal exposure to chemicals (no exposure, moderate exposure, high exposure) was based on qualitative rating of exposure assessment as [0] No skin contact: no contact with agent. [1] Moderate exposure: infrequent skin contact with agent contact occurs during specific activities that are not part of the daily work routine. [2] High exposure: frequent skin contact with agent regular contact is unavoidable due to particular activities in daily work practice. 3Another important variable airborne dust (no exposure, low exposure, moderate exposure, high exposure, very high exposure) was based on qualitative rating of exposure assessment as [0] No exposure: clear visibility. [1] Low exposure: visibility more than 10 m. [2] Moderate exposure: visibility between 5 to 10 m. [3] High exposure: visibility between 1 to 5 m. [4] Very high exposure: visibility less than 1 m. 4Ergonomic stressors (no exposure, low exposure, moderate exposure, high exposure, very high exposure) was based on qualitative rating of exposure assessment as [0] No exposure: does not occur (< 10% of work time). [1] Low exposure: less than 25% of daily work time. [2] Moderate exposure: 25–49% of daily work time. [3] High exposure: 50–74% of daily work time. [4] Very high exposure: 75% or more of daily work time. Exposure of waste water of chromium (no exposure, moderate exposure, high exposure) was based on qualitative rating of exposure assessment as [0] No exposure: no contact with chromium water. [1] Moderate exposure: infrequent contact with chromium

water. [2] High exposure: frequent contact with chromium water.

factors. Data were analyzed using STATA 14 software.

**3.1 Work related characteristics of tannery workers**

reported that they worked for all seven days in the week.

and 11%), and miscellaneous work (94% and 6%).

We begin with the descriptive analysis (frequency distribution) to present the sample. Further, cross-tabulation was done to study the association with the dependent variable and predictor variables included in the study. Adjusted odds ratio from the binary logistic regression was executed to determine the associated

The work-related characteristics of tannery workers are presented in **Table 1**. Tannery operations was categorized into four broad categories: Beam house work (8% of workers in a tannery unit), wet finishing (25%), dry finishing (50%), and

We collected information on total work experience (in the present job and previous ones) in tanneries. Around 15 percent of the tannery workers surveyed were engaged in the occupation for more than 20 years, and about one-third of workers were involved for 20 years in the tannery occupation. Most of the workers (89%) were working as daily wage laborers, while only 11 percent were permanent employees. Over one-fourth (27%) worked for 11 to 12 hours a day, and 52 percent

The nature of the work done is shown in **Figure 1**. For this study, the job contract was divided into two categories—temporary (daily wages) and permanent. Most workers were engaged in works on a temporary basis. In the beam house, where the work is particularly hazardous, 96 percent of the workers were employed temporarily, with permanent employees making up the remainder. The nature of the job contract was heavily skewed in the other sections also: wet finishing work (84% and 16 percent respectively of temporary and permanent workers), dry finishing (89%

**80**

*Work related characteristics of tannery workers.*

### **3.2 Awareness about the exposure of hazardous chemicals and work environment**

Workers' awareness of hazards involve in tannery operation is presented in **Table 2**. About 79 percent of the workers in the age group of 16–24 years agreed with the statement that "tannery work is very hazardous in nature" found to be highest. Awareness of the above statement varies from 73 to 93 percent for the educational attainment, religion, caste, media exposure, and standard of living index among the tannery workers. It was found that tannery workers having a middle-school level of education were 3.01 times more likely to be aware of the hazards as compared to the illiterate or less educated ones. Those with a comparatively higher standard of living were 2.08 times more likely to agree that "tannery work is very hazardous in nature" than those having a lower standard of living. Agreement with the statement that "tannery workers work in the very hazardous work environment" ranges from 55 to 79 percent for the predictors such as age,

**Figure 1.**

*Percent distribution of job contract by their type of work they usually do in tannery reported by tannery workers.*

education, religion, caste, media exposure, and standard of living index. Tannery workers aged 36 and above were 0.34 times, and those who had a medium level of media exposure were 0.58 times less likely to aware of a hazardous work environment. We also examined the perceptions about exposure to hazardous chemicals in tanning processes. The awareness varied between 40 and 69 percent according to selected background variables. Odds ratio show that workers having a middle level of education were 0.43 times, and those with a medium level of media exposure are 0.54 times less likely to aware of the exposure of hazardous chemicals used in the tanning process. We also tried to understand the awareness of exposure to hazardous tissues involved in the tanning process. It was found that awareness ranged from 40 to 65 percent, depending on age, education, religion, caste, media exposure, and standard of living index. The odds ratio shows that tannery workers aged 36 years and above were 0.44 times less likely to aware of the hazardous tissues involved in the tanning process.

The awareness of potential health hazards involved in the tanning process by type of work is presented in **Table 3**. It is seen that 83 wet finishing and dry finishing (about 80%) workers were aware that the tannery work is hazardous. Similarly, 66 and 64 percent wet finishing and dry finishing workers engaged in tannery workers accepted that they worked in an unsafe work environment. Most of the workers (69%) in the wet finishing section reported that tannery workers were exposed to several hazardous chemicals during the tanning process, which was following by workers engaged in dry finishing (55%), Beam house work (50%), and workers engaged in miscellaneous work (49%). Around two-thirds of the workers involved in wet finishing were agreed that hazardous tissue engaged in the tanning process.

*Awareness about the health hazard due to work in tannery occupation.*

This research work examined awareness of health problems that may occur in tannery work. Various health issues like respiratory trouble, skin complaints, eyerelated, and gastrointestinal issues were observed, which are presented in **Table 4**. Tannery workers who belong to the younger cohort (16–24 years) reported a higher awareness of respiratory problems (38%), skin complaints (59%), and gastrointestinal issues (21%) than those aged 36 years and above. There is an increasing awareness of educational attainment. Workers with high school education and more showed higher awareness of respiratory problems (52%), skin complaints (67%) in comparison to illiterate workers. Further, Hindu workers were more aware of respiratory problems (33%), skin complaints (55%), and gastrointestinal problems (16%) as compared to Muslim workers. Similarly, other caste group workers were also more aware of respiratory problems (29%), eye-related issues (46%), and the gastrointestinal problem (19%) compared to the schedule caste and other caste group workers.

**83**

**Background Variables**

**Tannery work is very hazardous in nature**

**Percent (%)**

> **Age in years**

16–24 25–35

36+ **Education** Illiterate

73.8

> Up to primary

Middle school High school &

78.7

1.23 [0.40–3.79]

69.7

above

**Religion**

Hindu Muslim

**Caste**

Schedule caste

Other

backward

class

Others

93.7

4.60 [0.56–37.80]

62.5

1.21[0.39–3.76]

50.0

0.84 [0.28–2.50]

50.0

0.92 [0.31–2.74]

80.6 65.3

0.41\*\* [0.20–0.86]

59.6

0.80 [0.41–1.57]

63.4

1.14 [0.58–2.24]

61.5

1.31 [0.67–2.55]

83.3 72.8

0.63 [0.31–1.26]

59.5 61.8

58.6

51.0

0.94 [0.53–1.66]

55.3

0.94 [0.53–1.66]

53.1

1.51 [0.86–2.66]

64.5

59.3

47.9

88.0

78.9

1.27 [0.52–3.12]

3.01\* [0.73–12.34]

60.0

63.1

0.98 [0.46–2.10]

0.94 [0.36–2.46]

1.31 [0.49–3.49]

57.5

0.78 [0.30–2.00]

57.5

1.27 [0.50–3.23]

40.0

0.43\* [0.16–1.14]

40.0

0.66 [0.25–1.73]

60.5

0.98 [0.46–2.09]

55.2

1.08 [0.51–2.28]

79.3 78.6 74.3

0.89 [0.31–2.57]

55.2 59.3

57.7

50.8

1.23 [0.42–3.65]

65.0

0.54 [0.20–1.49]

0.34\*\*[0.13–0.93]

52.6

0.55 [0.22–1.35]

46.0

0.44\*[0.18–1.07]

59.2

0.71 [0.28–1.78]

55.3

0.66 [0.27–1.62]

79.3

68.9

65.5

**Odds CI**

**Percent (%)**

**Odds CI**

**Percent (%)**

**Tannery workers work in hazardous work environment**

**Tannery workers are exposed to many hazardous chemicals**

**Odds CI**

**Percent (%)**

**Odds CI**

**Hazardous tissues involve in tanning process**

*Responsiveness of Occupational Health Risk and Preventive Measures Practice by the Workers…*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95110*


#### *Responsiveness of Occupational Health Risk and Preventive Measures Practice by the Workers… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95110*

*Occupational Wellbeing*

**Figure 1.**

*workers.*

the tanning process.

process.

education, religion, caste, media exposure, and standard of living index. Tannery workers aged 36 and above were 0.34 times, and those who had a medium level of media exposure were 0.58 times less likely to aware of a hazardous work environment. We also examined the perceptions about exposure to hazardous chemicals in tanning processes. The awareness varied between 40 and 69 percent according to selected background variables. Odds ratio show that workers having a middle level of education were 0.43 times, and those with a medium level of media exposure are 0.54 times less likely to aware of the exposure of hazardous chemicals used in the tanning process. We also tried to understand the awareness of exposure to hazardous tissues involved in the tanning process. It was found that awareness ranged from 40 to 65 percent, depending on age, education, religion, caste, media exposure, and standard of living index. The odds ratio shows that tannery workers aged 36 years and above were 0.44 times less likely to aware of the hazardous tissues involved in

*Percent distribution of job contract by their type of work they usually do in tannery reported by tannery* 

The awareness of potential health hazards involved in the tanning process by type of work is presented in **Table 3**. It is seen that 83 wet finishing and dry finishing (about 80%) workers were aware that the tannery work is hazardous. Similarly, 66 and 64 percent wet finishing and dry finishing workers engaged in tannery workers accepted that they worked in an unsafe work environment. Most of the workers (69%) in the wet finishing section reported that tannery workers were exposed to several hazardous chemicals during the tanning process, which was following by workers engaged in dry finishing (55%), Beam house work (50%), and workers engaged in miscellaneous work (49%). Around two-thirds of the workers involved in wet finishing were agreed that hazardous tissue engaged in the tanning

*Awareness about the health hazard due to work in tannery occupation.*

This research work examined awareness of health problems that may occur in tannery work. Various health issues like respiratory trouble, skin complaints, eyerelated, and gastrointestinal issues were observed, which are presented in **Table 4**. Tannery workers who belong to the younger cohort (16–24 years) reported a higher awareness of respiratory problems (38%), skin complaints (59%), and gastrointestinal issues (21%) than those aged 36 years and above. There is an increasing awareness of educational attainment. Workers with high school education and more showed higher awareness of respiratory problems (52%), skin complaints (67%) in comparison to illiterate workers. Further, Hindu workers were more aware of respiratory problems (33%), skin complaints (55%), and gastrointestinal problems (16%) as compared to Muslim workers. Similarly, other caste group workers were also more aware of respiratory problems (29%), eye-related issues (46%), and the gastrointestinal problem (19%) compared to the schedule caste and other caste

**82**

group workers.


**Table 2.** *Awareness among the tannery workers about the involvement of hazards in tannery work by some selected background characteristics.*

**85**

sure to ergonomic stressors.

also reported that exhaust fans (88–99%).

*Responsiveness of Occupational Health Risk and Preventive Measures Practice by the Workers…*

**Dry finishing**

Agree 62.5 82.9 80.4 61.7 51.4 217 Disagree 37.5 17.1 19.6 38.3 48.6 67

Agree 58.3 65.7 63.6 48.9 56.7 174 Disagree 41.7 34.3 36.4 51.1 43.3 110

Agree 50.0 68.6 54.6 48.9 61.3 161 Disagree 50.0 31.4 45.5 51.1 38.7 123

Agree 41.7 58.6 50.3 48.9 76.4 146 Disagree 58.3 41.4 49.7 51.1 23.6 138 **Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 284**

**Miscellaneous Overall (N)**

**Wet finishing**

**3.3. Qualitative measure of environmental exposure by type of work**

The chemicals used in tanning processes are not consumed but discharged into the environment as effluents. Effluents contain organic matter, chromium, sulphides, and solid waste. Qualitative assessment of exposure at the workplace may be a useful tool for evaluating hazardous working conditions. **Table 5** pres

*Awareness about the health hazard involved in tanning process by their type of work they usually do in tannery.*

ents qualitative measures of environmental exposure by different work categories. The results show that more than half (54%) of the workers engaged in beam housework followed by wet finishing (44%) and miscellaneous work (43%) had moderate to high exposure to chemicals. About one-third of Beamhouse work

ers (33%) and over a quarter (26%) of the wet finishing had moderate to high dermal contact with the chemicals. Further, 63 percent of the workers engaged in Beamhouse work, 51 percent doing miscellaneous work, 47 percent in wet finish

**3.4 Preventive measure and experiencing the different working condition**

ing, and 36% in dry finishing reported exposure to dust. Furthermore, 50 percent of the beam house workers, 43 percent workers in wet finishing, 34 percent in miscellaneous work, and 30 percent in dry finishing had moderate to high expo

The preventive and safety measures appropriate for the work are presented in **Table 6**. The highest use of gloves and masks is seen in Beamhouse work (12 & 13% respectively), wet finishing (10 & 16%), miscellaneous (9 & 17%), and dry finishing (6.3 and 9%). Most tannery workers (69–92%), temporary as well as permanent, reported that they were involved in loading and unloading of raw hides manually in tannery premises. Only a small proportion (4.3–10%) used trolleys for loading and unloading. A substantial proportion of tannery workers had high exposure to humidity (69–88%), heat (69–84%), noise (78–87%). Additionally, most (51–63%) had become accustomed to the smell of hide. Most tannery workers





*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95110*

**house**

**Tannery workers work in hazardous work environment**

**Tannery workers are exposed to many hazardous chemicals**

**Tannery work is very hazardous in nature**

**Hazardous tissues involve in tanning process**

**Table 3.**

**Statements Beam** 


*Responsiveness of Occupational Health Risk and Preventive Measures Practice by the Workers… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95110*

**Table 3.**

*Occupational Wellbeing*

**84**

**Background** 

**Tannery work is very hazardous in** 

**Tannery workers work in hazardous work** 

**Tannery workers are exposed to** 

**Hazardous tissues involve in** 

**tanning process**

**many hazardous chemicals**

**environment**

**nature**

**Percent (%)**

**Media** 

**exposure**

Low Medium

High **Standard of** 

**living index**

Low Medium

High **Total**

*\*p < 0.1.*

*\*\*p < 0.05.*

**Table 2.**

*Awareness among the tannery workers about the involvement of hazards in tannery work by some selected background characteristics.*

**76.0**

73.8 75.2 80.6

1.17 [0.58–2.39]

2.08\* [0.92–4.72]

68.1 **61.0**

60.6

1.34 [0.73–2.49]

1.94\*

62.5 **57.0**

1.46 [0.75–2.83]

57.9 **51.0**

1.42 [0.74–2.75]

[0.98–3.81]

56.1

1.18 [0.64–2.18]

50.5

1.07 [0.58–1.98]

56.0

52.3

46.7

76.9 74.6 79.0

0.74 [0.35–1.59]

0.64 [0.22–1.77]

67.9

55.8

0.58\* [0.30–1.11]

0.66 [0.28–1.57]

60.4

0.83 [0.35–1.97]

56.7

0.79 [0.34–1.85]

52.1

0.54\* [0.28–1.03]

47.1

0.59 [0.31–1.12]

64.6

61.5

53.8

**Odds CI**

**Percent (%)**

**Odds CI**

**Percent** 

**Odds CI**

**Percent (%)**

**Odds CI**

**(%)**

**Variables**

*Awareness about the health hazard involved in tanning process by their type of work they usually do in tannery.*

#### **3.3. Qualitative measure of environmental exposure by type of work**

The chemicals used in tanning processes are not consumed but discharged into the environment as effluents. Effluents contain organic matter, chromium, sulphides, and solid waste. Qualitative assessment of exposure at the workplace may be a useful tool for evaluating hazardous working conditions. **Table 5** presents qualitative measures of environmental exposure by different work categories. The results show that more than half (54%) of the workers engaged in beam housework followed by wet finishing (44%) and miscellaneous work (43%) had moderate to high exposure to chemicals. About one-third of Beamhouse workers (33%) and over a quarter (26%) of the wet finishing had moderate to high dermal contact with the chemicals. Further, 63 percent of the workers engaged in Beamhouse work, 51 percent doing miscellaneous work, 47 percent in wet finishing, and 36% in dry finishing reported exposure to dust. Furthermore, 50 percent of the beam house workers, 43 percent workers in wet finishing, 34 percent in miscellaneous work, and 30 percent in dry finishing had moderate to high exposure to ergonomic stressors.

#### **3.4 Preventive measure and experiencing the different working condition**

The preventive and safety measures appropriate for the work are presented in **Table 6**. The highest use of gloves and masks is seen in Beamhouse work (12 & 13% respectively), wet finishing (10 & 16%), miscellaneous (9 & 17%), and dry finishing (6.3 and 9%). Most tannery workers (69–92%), temporary as well as permanent, reported that they were involved in loading and unloading of raw hides manually in tannery premises. Only a small proportion (4.3–10%) used trolleys for loading and unloading. A substantial proportion of tannery workers had high exposure to humidity (69–88%), heat (69–84%), noise (78–87%). Additionally, most (51–63%) had become accustomed to the smell of hide. Most tannery workers also reported that exhaust fans (88–99%).


**87**

**Background Variables**

**Standard of living index** Low

28.0 20.2 28.4 **25.7** *Percent distribution of tannery workers who were aware about the health problems involve in tannery work.*

Medium

High **Total**

**Table 4.**

χ2 = 5.47 p < 0.242

50.4 53.9 59.0 **54.2**

χ2 = 3.47 p < 0.483

28.9 41.5 37.5 **35.5**

χ 2 = 5.16 p < 0.271

14.9 11.2 14.7 **13.7**

**Percent (%)**

**Chi-square**

**Percent (%)**

**Chi-square**

**Percent (%)**

**Chi-square**

**Percent (%)**

**Chi-square**

**Respiratory Problems**

**Skin Complaints**

**Eye related problems**

**Gastrointestinal problems**

*Responsiveness of Occupational Health Risk and Preventive Measures Practice by the Workers…*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95110*

χ2 = 9.34 p < 0.053

#### *Occupational Wellbeing*


*Occupational Wellbeing*

**86**

**Background Variables**

**Age in years**

16–24 25–35

36+ **Education**

Illiterate Up to primary Middle school High school & above

**Religion**

Hindu Muslim

**Caste**

Schedule caste Other backward class

Others **Media exposure**

Low Medium

High

36.9 13.0 38.2

χ2 = 23.45

61.5 51.4 53.0

χ2 = 5.48

35.3 39.8 28.4

χ2 = 6.67

21.5 6.5

19.7

χ 2 = 14.24

p < 0.007

p < 0.154

p < 0.241

p < 0.000

28.8 12.5

22.5

χ2 = 26.26

54.3 57.6 62.5

χ2 = 7.65

34.4 46.1 6.25

χ2 = 22.02

10.2 19.2

0.0

χ 2 = 24.80

p < 0.000

p < 0.001

p < 0.265

p < 0.000

33.3 21.8

χ2 = 18.91

55.2 53.7

χ2 = 1.14

22.9 42.0

χ2 = 10.71

15.6 12.7

χ2 = 1.11

p < 0.575

p < 0.005

p < 0.566

p < 0.000

51.5

19.2 23.6 40.0

χ2 = 19.48

54.5 39.4 56.0 66.6

χ2 = 8.46

37.4 31.5 36.0 27.2

χ2 = 4.47

11.7

7.8

24.0

21.2

χ 2 = 11.86

p < 0.065

p < 0.613

p < 0.206

p < 0.003

37.9 25.2 23.6

χ2 = 4.56

58.6 53.4 53.9

χ 2 = 1.76

24.1 34.9 38.1

χ2 = 13.89

20.6 13.5

12.5

χ2 = 2.19

p < 0.700

p < 0.008

p < 0.780

p < 0.335

**Percent (%)**

**Chi-square**

**Percent (%)**

**Chi-square**

**Percent** 

**Chi-square**

**Percent (%)**

**Chi-square**

**(%)**

**Respiratory Problems**

**Skin Complaints**

**Eye related problems**

**Gastrointestinal problems**
