1- Department of Occupational Health, School of Health, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
2- Department of Occupational Health and safety Engineering, School of Health, Social determinants of health research center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran ,fereydoonlaal@gmail.com
3- Department of Occupational Health Engineering and Safety at Work, Faculty of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
4- Social determinants of health research center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
5- Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2- Department of Occupational Health and safety Engineering, School of Health, Social determinants of health research center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran ,
3- Department of Occupational Health Engineering and Safety at Work, Faculty of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
4- Social determinants of health research center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
5- Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (69 Views)
Background: The present study aims to evaluate the level of awareness of workers with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) among workers exposed to chemicals.
Methods: The current study was cross-sectional which was conducted on 80 industrial workers in Zahedan (Iran). Therefore, the Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ) questionnaire according to the GHS international system was used to evaluate general knowledge and the labelling status of chemical substances by designing integrated visual and theoretical questions. Descriptive statistics, and correlation coefficients were also used in data analysis.
Results: The highest awareness of workers was related to explosive (100%) and flammable (96.3%) pictograms. About 72.5% of the participants claimed to have encountered unlabeled chemical packages in their work experience. 86.3% of the workers considered the label on the package "useful to prevent accidents"; about 32% reported that they had never seen "health hazard" pictogram; and about 98.8%, received the necessary training about the dangers of chemicals. Also, the results showed that there was no significant correlation between the age and work history of the participants and their level of awareness (P>0.05), but a statistically significant correlation was observed between education and gender and the level of awareness (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Analysis of the current state of chemical safety labeling showed that pictograms such as GHS "health hazard" are not familiar to workers. Despite the high level of education, workers could analyse English labels at an average level. Moreover, increasing work records did not have much effect on improving people's awareness.
Methods: The current study was cross-sectional which was conducted on 80 industrial workers in Zahedan (Iran). Therefore, the Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ) questionnaire according to the GHS international system was used to evaluate general knowledge and the labelling status of chemical substances by designing integrated visual and theoretical questions. Descriptive statistics, and correlation coefficients were also used in data analysis.
Results: The highest awareness of workers was related to explosive (100%) and flammable (96.3%) pictograms. About 72.5% of the participants claimed to have encountered unlabeled chemical packages in their work experience. 86.3% of the workers considered the label on the package "useful to prevent accidents"; about 32% reported that they had never seen "health hazard" pictogram; and about 98.8%, received the necessary training about the dangers of chemicals. Also, the results showed that there was no significant correlation between the age and work history of the participants and their level of awareness (P>0.05), but a statistically significant correlation was observed between education and gender and the level of awareness (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Analysis of the current state of chemical safety labeling showed that pictograms such as GHS "health hazard" are not familiar to workers. Despite the high level of education, workers could analyse English labels at an average level. Moreover, increasing work records did not have much effect on improving people's awareness.
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