Reconsideration of occupational injuries and illness of Workerûs Compensation Fund in Thailand

This descriptive study aimed to determine the incidence rate of occupational injury and illness and compare between data presentation of count rank (old format of Workerûs Compensation Fund) and rate rank. We used data of annual report of Social Security statistics in 2008, and used number of insured persons as denominators.The result showed that incidence rate was 20.1 persons per 1,000 insured persons. Bangkok had the highest injury count but Samut Prakan had the highest incidence rates. Workers aged 20 - 24 had the highest injury count but those aged 15 - 19 had the highest incidence rates. Metal production had the highest injury count but production of basic metals had the highest incidence rates.In conclusion, this study shows that the data of Workerûs Compensation Fund was under utilized forprevention and control of occupational injury and illness. This problem reveals the need to improve format and data presentation in order to reduce the numbers and incidence rate of occupational injury and illness.

The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in office worker and airborne fungi in the building with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in office workers and that in the workplace in 1 large building which had close system and used Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning system (HVAC system) and had the problem of visible mold and water intrusion. And, this study also aimed at studying the amount of airborne fungi and environmental factors that involved the airborne fungi in the building.Methodology: The design of study was cross sectional study. The data were collected by distributing the questionnaires to 404 office workers during April to May 2008. The response rate was 68.56 percents. Of 253/404 office workers served as sample population who were suited with the study criteria.Results: The overall percentages of the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in office workers and that in the workplace within the past month were 49.21 and 9.25, respectively. Factors significantly related to allergic rhinitis in the workplace within a past month were previous history of asthma, visible mold in the workplace, and a carpet in the workplace (p \< .05). The office workers in the building with the above factors were two or more times of higher risk to have allergic rhinitis than the office workers who did not have those factors. Meanwhile, room survey for airborne fungi showed a median of 198 Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/m3 of mold (Interquartile range (IQR) = 170 CFU/m3). Carbon dioxide and relative humidity significantly associated with the amount of airborne fungi (p \< .05).Discussion: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis of the office workers in this building is higher than that of general people in Thailand. However, there are a few office workers who have allergic rhinitis in the workplace and this is not related to the amount of airborne fungi. The amount of airborne fungi mainly depends on carbon dioxide and relative humidity not on visible mold, water intrusion or stain, water condensation, or mold odor in the workplace.

Health Promotion in Central Government Organizations

This survey study aimed at exploring policies, projects, current activities, problems and problem solving, and supports needed for health promotion in central government organizations. The data were collected using questionnaires sent to all central government organizations (173 units) and analyzed by percentage, mean and standard deviation.The study found that the majority of central government organizations did not have health promotion policies (73.4%), most central government organizations had health promotion projects and activities (84.7%) and most of them were exercise. The most frequent problems were lack of personnel directly response for health promotion (40.3%), lack of budget (34.7%) and not having enough places for activities (19.7%), respectively. The problem solving needed policy setting in health promotion, setting strategic plans for health promotion, and allocating budget for health promotion. The central government organizations needed supports in terms of knowledge, medias and materials. The authors recommend that the concerned bodies must establish health promotion policy in government organizations, and the successful organizations support knowledge and information to others.

Health Belief and Self Protection Behavior from Hazardous Chemicals of Motor Compressor Workers in Thailand

The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore the health belief and self protection behavior from hazardous chemicals and health hazard of motor compressor workers in Thailand. The study samples were workers who worked with hazardous chemicals, manager and safety officer of total 411 persons. The study tool was interviewed questionnaire. Data was collected during October and December 2007. Results showed that most study samples had knowledge about hazardous chemicals in low level (58.2%), only 6.6% had in high level. They had health belief score in high level. They perceived susceptibility and severity to hazardous chemicals, perceived benefit and obstacle to practice self protection from hazardous chemicals in high level (87.1%, 91.0%, 86.6% and 79.1%, respectively). They had self protection behavior from hazardous chemicals in high level. The correlation between variables showed that the factors that had positive statistical significant correlation with behavior on self protection from hazardous chemicals was using MSDS and perceived obstacle to practice self protection from hazardous chemicals. Whereas, factors that had negative statistical significant correlation with behavior on self protection from hazardous chemicals were age, education, income, duration of work and knowledge about hazardous chemicals. Based on this study, the authors recommend to use rules and regulations to enforce workers, foreman, managers and safety officer to use personal protective equipment. Such rules and regulations must be applied to everybody in the factory. Moreover, industrial hygiene principles should also be applied to reduce health hazards.

Vinyl Chloride Monomer

Vinyl chloride monomer is the raw material used to produced polyvinyl chloride - a kind of plastic. It is a carcinogen causing angiosarcoma of the liver. This article reviews the production, exposure, exposure assessment, biomarker of exposure and biomarker of effect of vinyl chloride monomer.

Benzene

Benzene is ubiquitous in the air, especially cigarette smoke and car exhaust. It is a carcinogen causing acute myeloid leukemia. This article reviews the sources, exposure, exposure assessment, biomarker of exposure and biomarker of effect of benzene.