Journal of Global Resources
Volume 5July 2017
ISSN: 2395-3160 (Print), 2455-2445 (Online)

Page 59-65

08
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH STATUS OF SMALL SCALE INDUSTRY WORKERS IN
ALIGARH CITY (U.P.)
Nida Fatima
Research Scholar, Department of Geography,Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
Email: nida.fatima2012@gmail.com

Abstract: One cannot imagine development without the development of enterprises andproductivity of industries is directly depend upon the workers’ health, it means health andproductivity are expected to highly correlated. The workers of the unorganized sector aremostly uneducated and have nothing to sell in the labour market except their services as alabour. Therefore a good health condition is important for them, as they having the longhours of working in the hazardous condition without any security. The small scale industry
having small space poor ventilation and ill management leads several health problems. The
labour intensive small scale industry absorbs the bulk of labour and makes them skilful.
Small scale industry although play key role in economic development of India and provide
ample opportunity to earn livelihood of lakh of artisans. The aim of present study is to identify
the major health problems in different type of small scale industry and the factors which
contribute to these problems. The study is mainly based on primary sources of datacollected from the workers employed in various small scaleindustries. The various
industrial processes and workplace environment create conditions that led to small scale
varying health problems in different industries as reflected in the physical and mental
disorders afflicting this population.
Key words: Small Scale Industry, Health Problem, Workers, Work Environment
Introduction
In countries like India, great efforts are directed towards the development of small scaleindustries as the engine for their economic growth. The small scale industry of India is one
such industry which has provided ample opportunity of employment for the people especiallyfor low socio economic class (Roy, 2008). Health and productivity of workers are expected
to be highly correlated. The better the health condition of a worker, it is likely that the higher
his/her productivity and vice versa. The workers of the unorganized sector are mostly
uneducated and have nothing to sell in the labour market except their services as a labour.
The impact of industrial growth and human health has been a matter of concern the world
over. Industrial growth is generally considered as an indicator of development. Development
implies improvement in quality of life. Therefore, the emphasis must be as much on social
wellbeing as on economic progress. The need for good health thus becomes one of theprimary objectives of development especially in the developing countries (Izhar, 2004). Small
scale industry workers constitute a significant proportion of the total population of any
industrial area. The health of this population is reflected in the health of the society in thegiven area. Thus an understanding of health situation of workers employed in industry canbe of considerable significance in explaining the spatial differentiation in health and disease
pattern. Some studies pertaining to problems in specific industries carried out by researchers59

in various disciplines. There is no doubt that like other manufacturing industries has broughtvarious health problems. However these health problems associated with different industries
depend on prevailing industrial structure, duration of working hour, work place environment,
year of exposure and prevailing socio economic condition .Therefore a good health condition
is important for them , as they having the long hours of working in the hazardous condition
without any security because the lock industry in Aligarh city are un organized and does notfollow any rules and norms which had government form for the security of labour and due topoverty and illiteracy the workers are unfair about that . It is well said, health is wealth. It is
health which enables the worker to go through his work & complete it in time cheerfully. Ifworkers health is good, they can work with full capacity and efficiency. It helps to increase
the production and profit of the organization. Then the organization can provide better wages& other welfare facilities to the workers. Thus employees’ welfare, health and safetymeasures are related with each other. Hence, every organization should take care ofemployees’ health by providing proper safety measures.
An industrial accident may affect the working capacity of the worker. Some workers
may become permanently handicapped. Accidents affect the industrial productivity which inturn affects the economy. A company, in which accidents are frequently occurring, create
poor image in the public eye. An employer has to pay large amount as compensation. It
increases costs of industry resulting from the separation of the disabled worker. If the worker
disabled is highly skilled and experienced one, this loss is greater. Injured worker can’t workwith full capacity. It also affects his family. The factories Act, 1948 lays down certain
provisions of safety and health of the workers to be adopted by the factories. Whenever anaccident occurs it gives rise to pain for the victim and his family and retards industrial
productivity which in turn affects the economy of the country. It results in the financial loss forthe employees and the employer and large payments by the later in the shape ofcompensation.
Objectives
The objectives of the present study are:
• To identify the major health problems in different type of small scale industry.
• To find out the factors which contribute to health problems of workers.
• To suggest some measures that needs to be addressed urgently in order to tackle
these problems.
Database and Methodology
The study is mainly based on primary sources of data collected from the workers employedin various small scale industries. A total of 149 workers engaged in 38 small scale industries
were interviewed for this study. For the present study researcher had used purposive
sampling technique. The questionnaire which had been used for interviewed having thequestion about the health condition. Question regarding their working hours, working place
condition, problem due to long working hours and also the availability of health facility taken
considered. For the presentation of the data simple percentage method had been used .The
health problems have been divided in to three section viz., ergonomic problems, systematicproblems and psychological problems.

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Study Area
Aligarh city is situated in the east from Delhi at the distance of 135 Km. in the North from
Agra at the distance 85 Km. and towards West from Kanpur at 288 Km. It is on main track oftrain as well as of Roadways. Therefore, there is no problem of transportation, which isfrequently available. Aligarh is well known for manufacturing the different type of locks usedin Building doors, Automobiles, V.I.P Suitcases, Wooden & Steel Furniture etc. due to which
Aligarh possess an important position in the industrial map of India. The climate up to 48ºCand cold dry in winter with a minimum temperature down to 2º C and intervening rainyseason up to 60 – 100 cm. Aligarh is an important city of Uttar Pradesh. The total area ofAligarh city is 33.98 sq. km and its total population is 909, 559. Out of which 482, 828 aremales (Census, 2011). The literacy rate of the city is 70.54 percent. (Fatima, 2016).Although
the urban growth rate is fluctuating in Aligarh city but the city population is graduallyincreasing. The population of Aligarh City is 872,575 which makes it 7th largest populated
city in Uttar Pradesh (Census, 2011). Of the total population, it has 25.36 per cent arereported to be main workers (61% tertiary sector, 36.5% secondary sector and 2.5% primarysector). The Aligarh city has the status of class-1 city with 23 % of the district population
lives in Aligarh city. Studies suggest that rapid urbanization of Aligarh city has led to large
scale land transformations and expansion of urban area .The population is increasing by
natural growth and migration in Aligarh city resulting in expansion of the city encroaching
upon the lands from surrounding villages to accommodate these people. The village
economy is tied up with the growing city. Aligarh is a quite famous city for manufacturing ofLocks and Building Hardware. Aligarh is known as “Tala Nagri”. Locks and Hardware
industries are the main industries of Aligarh. At present this city is leading in the manufactureof simple locks used in doors, cycle locks, suitcase locks and locks used in scooters,motorcycles cars and trucks. Some 2, 00,000 people are directly or indirectly associated withat least 5,000 lock manufacturing units of Aligarh. In Aligarh there are 7 – 10large lockmanufacturers; 30-35 medium sized & 1500+ small manufacturers. Total of 1683 lockindustrial units are functioning in Aligarh city (Fatima, 2015). In Aligarh city the main lockmanufacturing is located in main industrial area, while the small scale manufacturingindustries are located randomly but cluster of industries are located all along the railway tract
and centre of the city.
Discussion
Occupational HealthOccupational health is essentially preventive medicine. Both have the same aim ofprevention of disease and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social
well-being of workers in all occupation. Occupational health therefore is the application of
preventive medicine in all places of employment (Nalini, 2009). Ergonomics is thephysiological link between the worker and his environment. This would have an effect on theworker’s body and the relative increase of discomfort in various parts of the body. It indicatesthe effects of varied working condition which led to the occurrence of health related
problems. The various systematic problems that are investigated are respiratory systems,cardiovascular system and skin. The psychological problems are examined in terms ofstress and sleep.
Health problems in small scale industries
Health problems in cottage industries differ from one industry to another; it depends upon
the nature of the industry. The health problems of some industries are very prominent. In the61on-going paragraph discuss the environmental condition and process which responsible increating various health problems in different industries.
Lock industry
Lock industry is the industry wherein the iron is transformed into a form of lock which is used
for human consumption. This is the industry where human population are engaged indifferent types of work like polishing, cutting, hammering etc. Dust can be responsible forserious respiratory disorder include asthma (www.waset.org/journals/waste/v80/v80.50.pdf)
Flour grinding and Spice Grinding
Flour grinding also produces a large amount of dust. On an average, flour grinding workers
are exposed to the workplace environment for eight to ten hours a day. Poor ventilation isthe basic problem in flour grinding throughout the country. Flour dust accumulate in the work
place environment because of poor ventilation, hence workers get exposed to excessive
amount of flour dust which lead to pulmonary and respiratory diseases due to a long time
continuous exposure (Nilish, 2006). Spices are vegetable products used specially in powder
form for giving a taste to foods. Spice grinding is associated with dust and noise problems.
During the process of grinding large amount of dust produces and inhale by the workers
which lead to respiratory problems (Chan, 1990).
Brass and hardware industry
Brass and hardware industry in Aligarh city is the important, ancient traditional industry,
which plays an important role in improving economic condition of rural people by providing
employment to a large number of people in study area. The process of hardware parts
involves exposure to brass and steel dust which causes irritation in the nose, eyes andrespiratory system (Izhar, 2004)
Furniture industry
Furniture industry is the manufacturing industry where peoples are involved in building thewooden furniture. In Aligarh city large peoples are involved in the furniture industry. In thisindustry due to long working hours people having the back problems. Table.1 shows thehealth profile of sampled small scale industry workers in the study area. About 80 percent
respondents reported that they have various kinds of health problems in different industries.
The association between different categories of industries and the various health problems
show that problem of respiratory and muscular are frequently reported in lock industry andflour grinding. With reference to the workers the skin disease are reported more. It isbecause of use of polishing in the lock materials. The respondents get itching. To avoid theeffect of polish, they use cloths to cover their hand. (Table.1) The fact that the problems ofstress and sleep almost pervade in all cottage industry, the consequence of industrial
environment are brought into sharp focus. Psychological stress caused by time and workpressure, have been associated with sleep disturbances. Majority of the workers in theindustry are daily wagers and living in poor socio economic condition so they are compelled
to work for more than 12 hours, this lead to adverse psychological effects (Table.1)

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Table 01: Nature of Health Problem according to Industry Type (In percentage)
Nature ofLock
Flour andFurniture
BrassTotal
Health Problem
Industry Spice grinding
industryIndustry
Skin
2.01
2.02
4.68
2.17
10.88
Respiratory
7.97
11.59
2.17
4.35
26.08
Muscular
29.71
17.39
3.62
1.45
52.17
Stress and sleep
4.35
2.90
0.72
2.90
10.87
Total
44.04
Source: Based on field survey, 2015

33.90

11.19

10.87

100.00Respiratory problems are very common among all small scale workers (Table.2). In
case of lock industry, flour grinding and spice grinding workers, as they are receiving aheavy dose of dust particle which leads to respiratory diseases due to excessive exposure tofine organic dust prevalent in the workplace environment. The weavers frequently report thebreathing problems because the minute thread dust and the iron dust surround the room’s
atmosphere while they operate the looms. They get respiratory problems because they
inhale the dust. Bronchitis and T.B is found to be a threat from small scale workers although.
Table 02: Respiratory Problem according to Industry Type (In percentage)
Kind ofLock Industry
Flour andFurniture
Brassproblem
Spice grinding
Industryindustry
Breathing
72.73
50.00
66.67
66.76
AsthmaBronchitis
T.B.

18.18
9.09
-

43.75
6.25

33.37
-

16.67
16.67

Total

100.00100.00100.00100.00Source: Based on field survey, 2015

PERCENTAGE

Figure .1

100%
90%80%70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%0%

ALIGARH CITYRESPIRATORY PROBLEM ACCORDING TO SMALL SCALE
INDUSTRY,2015

Lock Industry

Breathing

AsthmaFlour and SpiceFurniture industry
grinding
TYPES OF INDUSTRY

Bronchitis

T.B.

63

Brass industry

Fig .1 shows a very small percentage of T.B and bronchitis complaints as compare
to breathing and asthma.
Table 03: Discomforts in Body Parts
Parts ofLock Industry
Flour andFurniture
Brass industry
Body
Spice grinding
Industry
Back48.78
50.00
40.00
50.00
Neck7.32
8.33
20.00
Shoulder
36.59
33.33
40.00
Others
7.32
8.33
50.00
Total
100.00100.00100.00100.00Source: Based on field survey, 2015
The data in Table.3 show that back pain and shoulder pain are major physicalproblems found in practically all the categories of industries. The problem may have arisen
due to posture, since most industries required constant standing posture and long workinghours.
Figure .2

ALIGARH CITYPERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF WORKERS ACCORDING TOHEALTH PROBLEMS IN BODY PARTS, 2015
100%
90%

PERCENTAGE

80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Lock Industry

Flour and Spicegrinding

Furniture industry

Brass industry

TYPES OF INDUSTRY
BackNeckShoulderOthers

The Fig. 2 shows that 49% of the people are facing backache, 35% are sufferingfrom shoulder pain 16% are suffering from neck pain and other problems.
Conclusion
The industrial environment, prevailing today is far from conducive to generate a sense ofhappiness among the people who work within this environment. The various industrial
processes and workplace environment create conditions that led to varying health problems
in different industries as reflected in the physical and mental disorders afflicting thispopulation. Although the exact occupational diseases could not be identified during thisstudy, the ailments described by the respondents give sufficient indication of the nature of64

health problems that are being encountered. To sustain human progress and well-being,
there is an urgent need of full effort to tackle these problems. The following are some of theissues that need to be addressed urgently:• Industry workers should be made aware of work related health problems through media
or door to- door campaigns by non-governmental agencies.
• The workers must enforce the use of safety devices against pollution and otherchemicals especially weavers should use cloths to cover their hand to avoid effect ofdye.
• The poor facilities and bad environmental conditions will affect the worker’s health andconsequently production repeatedly. There should be proper ventilation in the workplace.
• Stress management should be introduced in the organization and interaction could help
in better occupational adjustment.
References
1. Roy, Sima, A Study on Health Status of Women Engaged in Home-based Papad making
Industry in a Slum Area of Kolkata,
2. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 12(1),2008, 33-36
3. Izhar, N., Geography and Health: A Study in Medical Geography (A.P.H. PublishingCorporation, 2004).
4. Nalini, B., Work condition and Health Status in Unorganised Sector: A Gender –based
Study (Serials Publications, New Delhi, 2009).
5. www.waset.org/journals/waset/v80/v80.50.pdf
6. Nilish, D., The Influence of Workplace Environment on Lung Function of Flour millWorkers in Jalgaon Urban Centre, Journal of Occupational Health,.48, 2006,396-401
7. Chan, O.Y. ,Health Problems among Spice grinders, The Journal of the Society ofOccupational Medicine, 40(3),1990, 111-115.
8. Izhar, N., Geography and Health: A Study in Medical Geography (A.P.H. Publishing
Corporation, 2004).
9. Fatima, N. & Bano, R., Health Problem of Lock Industry Workers: A Case study ofAligarh City in Uttar Pradesh, Life and Living Newer Spectral Geography, Mohit
Publication, New Delhi, 2015. pp-254-268
10. Fatima, N., Industrial Development and its Problem and Prospects: A Case Study ofAligarh City, Journal of Global Resources, Vol.3, July, 2016.

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