Working conditions and their associations with subjective health assessment among sewing-machine operators in three light industry companies of Kaunas

The occupational environment in light industry enterprises still often possesses occupational factors, which under a long-term influence on the body can harm employee’s health and can become a cause of occupational diseases. The employees of sewing enterprises are constantly exposed to physical, chemical, and ergonomic risk factors, which both can lead to occupational diseases and can have an impact on the course of other diseases. Aim of the study. To evaluate the working conditions and to determine their associations with a subjective health assessment among sewing-machine operators. Methods of the study. This study employed a cross-sectional, anonymous survey design. The study was carried out from December 2012 until February 2013. Three sewing enterprises located in Kaunas were randomly selected. The study population comprised all female sewing-machine operators working in sewing enterprises (n=223). A total of 223 questionnaires were distributed during the study; 182 correctly filled-in questionnaires were used for statistical analysis (other questionnaires were filled in incorrectly or incompletely). The response rate was 81.6%. Statistical data analysis was performed by using SPSS 20.0. Results. The respondents pointed out the following risk factors most frequently while evaluating their working conditions: work accompanied by physical strain, dustiness, working in awkward positions, work accompanied by emotional stress, and long working hours. Less than half (43.4%) of the respondents rated their current health status as good. Moreover, it was determined that 31.7% of the respondents had their regular health checkups less than one year ago. Within the last 12 months, the disorders of the following systems were diagnosed and treated most frequently: musculoskeletal (33.0%), cardiovascular (27.5%), eye (14.8%), and respiratory (13.2%). More than one-third (39.8%) of the sewing-machine operators who participated in this survey linked part of their health disorders to working conditions. Backache (48.1%) as well as headache and dizziness (47.1%) were the most common health complaints reported to be associated with working conditions. Conclusions. The following risk factors of working environment were mentioned most frequently: work accompanied by physical strain, dustiness, working in awkward positions, work accompanied by emotional stress, and long working hours. Even 39.8% of the respondents linked their health disorders to working conditions. Backache, headache, and dizziness were the most common health complaints associated with working conditions