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العنوان
Health hazards among workers in Aden (Yemen) Petroleum Refinery /
المؤلف
Alhaj, Maged Saeed.
هيئة الاعداد
باحث / ماجد سعيد عبدالله
مشرف / حسني شعبان احمد
مناقش / هاله مصطفي الهادي
مناقش / هاله حسن ابراهيم
الموضوع
Health hazards.
تاريخ النشر
2020.
عدد الصفحات
155 p. ;
اللغة
الإنجليزية
الدرجة
الدكتوراه
التخصص
الصحة العامة والصحة البيئية والمهنية
الناشر
تاريخ الإجازة
24/3/2020
مكان الإجازة
جامعة أسيوط - كلية الطب - Public health and community medicine
الفهرس
Only 14 pages are availabe for public view

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from 166

Abstract

Oil industries play a very important role in the provision of energy and economic growth. Today, refinery and petrochemical products are consumed by numerous industries for various purposes, such as car industries, aviation sector, manufacturing industries, and electrical power generation.2The present study was a cross- sectional study conducted in Aden refinery company in Aden governorate in Yemen aimed to identify the prevalence of work-related morbidity among the workers and associated hazardous exposures and its effects on the health of workers. Data was collected from the workers under the study by semi structured questionnaires through an interview done by the researcher himself. The data was collected by the questionnaire include the following modules: Personal data, Detailed occupational history of present occupation, Data about the health hazards in work environment, include the occurrence of disease post-employment like anemia ,skin disease, tumors, liver disease, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cataract, abortion, post-partum hemorrhage, malformation, DROP fetals, recurrence of infection, bowel disturbance, Allergy, hearing defect, sleep disturbance, peripheral neuropathy and any work-related affection. The module includes also the history if the workers undergo to pre-employment periodic examination. Also, about training about the occupational health and safety. Petroleum refinery workers are exposed to many hazards which affect their health in different ways. They exposed to wide varieties of numerous hazardous chemical substances used either as process chemicals and/or present in resultant effluents, in addition to invisible emissions, which include petroleum itself and other aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, phenol, etc.), hydrogen sulphide and other natural gases (methane, propane, butane, etc.), carbon monoxide, asphalt, toxic heavy metals (arsenic, chromium, cadmium, nickel, zinc, etc.),coke dust, lead alkyls, silica, asbestos etc. They also exposed to physical hazards (noise, vibration, radiations and higher temperature) and ergonomic hazards (manual handling dangerous activities and repetitive motions, awkward postures)4. chronic exposure to benzene can cause serious adverse health effects such as hematological disorders (in form of leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, and pancytopenia), hepatotoxicity, genotoxicity, increased levels of persistent chromosome aberrations and reproductive effects. from the study we revealed that: Refinery workers who living in company accommodation and Al-Buriqa area were significantly suffering from cardiovascular disease and hearing defect more than who living in other areas.Total work-related occupational health problems are 24.4%. The prevalence rate of hypertension was higher among refinery workers who hold secondary education than other qualification. There is higher occurrence of difficulty of breathing and suffocation post-employment (32.9%) were experienced difficulty of breathing which caused by Gas (64.1%), Asthma (25.2%), suffocation due to fire (22.1%), suffocation to confined space (13%), Suffocation due to inhalation of chemicals (1.5%).The study showed that there was 13.6% of the study participants experienced Anemia during working period due to exposed to vapor of solvent that have an impact of haematoptic process. High prevalence of skin disease among the study participants about (26.9%). About 91.6 % was skin allergy ,40% skin discoloration,22% skin tags ,14% Eczema ,2.8% Others. There are eight cases of tumor among the study participants, some of them completely recovered by resection and therapeutic management, the most of them are Breast, Ovary, colon, Skin.This study reveals that there is hepatic insufficiency among study participants about (8%) of them are suffering from hepatic insufficiency Hypertension and cardiovascular diseases were significantly higher among smokers and those with work duration ≥ 30 years. There was significantly higher occurrence of hearing defects among smokers, those with work duration ≥ 30 years and those with history of noise exposure (37.5%)So, we recommended that: Pre-placement examination should be done for all new workers and to minimize work related-illnesses and diseases, the selection should be under the role of workers‟ susceptibility and the workplace environment and conditions. Periodic medical examination should be done for exposed workers including Physical, audiometric, spirometric and radiological chest examinations to pick up and removal of the effected workers from further exposure with suitable management of them. Complete blood count (CBCs) may be used for periodic medical examination as an additional measure to assessment affection of workers by benzene as early detection of anemia and changes in leucocytic counts. Health and safety education of workers by explaining the health hazards to which they are exposed, early symptoms of these hazards and the importance of the proper use of protective measures. Measures should be taken to decrease duration of working hours of exposure/day to be less than 8 hours /day. Replacing the asbestos, as an insulator, by other material not harmful or at least less harmful is fundamental demand. Apply smoking prevention program to all workers. Using PPE requires hazard awareness and training on how to use. Employees must be aware if the equipment isn’t used properly, Hazard will occur. To reduce the possibility of health hazards, equipment must be efficient, properly fitted and maintained in clean and serviceable condition. Workers had chronic disease, family history of allergy and work as farmer in weekends should work in place with low exposure and low dust or take extra precautions, they are more vulnerable for atopy and allergy. Workers working in hot environment should be instructed to increase fluid intake and salts in their food to prevent renal disorders and heat stroke. Audiometric test should be done periodically especially for workers in power station and maintenance. Continuous engineering improvements, which involve enclosement of high emission plant to reduce the resulting chemical emissions as well as proper ventilation of the workplace through efficient local, exhaust ventilation system. Periodic testing for the ventilation system to assure that they are perfect and periodic air analysis should be carried out for measuring the particulates and gaseous concentrations to be with the standard measurement.