Railway company‘s employees working conditions and their correlations with self-report on personal health

Aim of the study: to examine employees working conditions within the certain railway company and to analyze the correlations between the working conditions and employees` self-report on personal health. Tasks of the study: 1. To examine the social, psychological and physical conditions of the employees. 2. To investigate all ergonomic, psychological, social and physical factors influencing the employees’ health. 3. To assess employees` subjective opinion about their health condition and their complaints about individual health issues. 4. To analyze the correlations between employees` working conditions and their self-report on personal health. Methods: The survey was held in 2011. During the process 415 employees of the railway company were given an anonymous questionnaire. The response rate was 88,1%. The questionnaire consisted of 5 parts: demographics; health condition and complaints about individual health issues; living conditions and psychological-social factors; working activity and working conditions. For statistical analysis the SPSS 17 software was used. Results: 76,9 percent of respondents were satisfied with their living conditions. However, the healthy lifestyle is an issue: 40,7 percent of respondents are smoking; 78,3 percent use alcohol; 56,9 percent are lacking physical activity, 73,6 percent have unhealthy eating habits, 24,3 percent experience sleep shortages, 46,7 percent are constantly under stress. The most common individual health issues are rhinitis (46,7%), back (42,9%), joints (21,2%), waist (19%), neck (6,5%) pain, impaired vision (12,9%); paresthesia and coldness in legs, arms (10%); headaches (14,9%). The most common health issues, associated with working conditions are paresthesia, coldness and pain in arms, hands; pain in back, waist; vision impairment, dizziness, frequent rhinitis, allergic skin disorders. Conclusion: The majority of Railway company's workers are 40-49 years of age. Every fifth employee of the railway company has higher education. 68,2 percent of respondents assume that their health condition is „good“. The most complained health issues were unpleasant experiences in skeleton and muscular system (pain in back, joints, waist, neck; paresthesia and coldness in legs, arms), also central nervous system disorders (headaches, mood disorders, hypersomnia, insomnia). Working conditions that most contribute to tiring: uncomfortable ambient temperature, noisy environment, long working hours (8 h), vision-intensive tasks, and unpleasant odors within the working environment. 55% of respondents were satisfied with their working conditions and assumed their health condition was \"good\". Employees who have the attention deficit disorder evaluated their health condition as „worse than average“(p=0,003). The disorders most influenced by working conditions were tingling sensations, coldness and pain in arms and hands (31%). Practical recommendations: To instruct employees to work according to safety standards; to supply a sufficient amount of working clothes, personal protection equipment for all workers in every position. To provide working instructions to new employees and to make employees familiar with hazardous and dangerous factors within the working environment