Abstract
The objectives of the study were:To develop a model for occupational and environmental health hazard surveillance which focused on agricultural and industrial sectors,To collect data and information regarding occupational and environmental health at provincial level,To identify health hazard information for the development of surveillance system. In addition, all of this information was used to prioritize occupational and environmental health problems at provincial level.The methods of the study were designed to encourage all relevant organization participation. Six provinces, such as Nan, Uttaradit, Ayutthaya, Srakaew, Amnajchareun, and Yala, were invited to join the project. The steps of the study included data collection and survey. The secondary data, e.g., general information of province, number of working population, and number and type of factories, were collected from relevant organizations in provinces. After that, a survey of health hazards in agriculture was conducted by local health officers. A self-assessment health book for farmers from Bureau of Occupational and Environmental Diseases was used as a tool to collect the data. The target population was 150 farmers for each province. The sample was taken by cluster sampling from each household of three districts. Regarding the industrial sector, the information about number and type of factories was collected. Only one workplace from each type of factories was chosen to conduct a survey in order to get the information about workplace information, working process, and health hazards. This information including the data from Workmen’s Compensation Fund was analyzed to set up a priority of the problems in terms of type of factories.The results showed that working population among 6 provinces was about ¾ of total population. Most of them are farmers, e.g., 85% in Nan, and 70% in Uttaradit. Almost farmers are rice-farmers. However, the majority in Yala is rubber gardener. Regarding the industrial sector, the data showed that the leading factories were agricultural industry. Ayutthaya was the province where the number of factories and number of workers were highest. In spite of very high number of target population, there are very few numbers of occupational health professionals who can provide occupational health services in all of those provincesThe data from the survey showing that farmers’ health hazards include 1) heat and sunlight, 2) ergonomic problems and accident, and 3) unsafe use of pesticide. On the other hand, there were lots of health hazards, especially chemical, in industries. Types of industries that were the most important for setting up the surveillance were firework factories (Nan), Auto-body and repair shops (Uttaradit), Shoe-making factories (Ayutthaya), wood factories (Srakaew), rice mill factories (Amnajchareun), and wood factories (Yala).In conclusions, hazard surveillance is very essential and important for occupational and environmental health surveillance system. The system can use all secondary data from several sources in province. Apart from that, a field survey is needed to assist in identifying other hazard information. The problems identified by the study included lack of some data, no system for data sharing, low capacity of local health officers in hazard identification, and lack of cooperation among relevant organizations and workplaces. However, the study showed its promising achievement as a first step for surveillance system development.
