Determinants of occupational health and safety problems among seaweed workers in takalar regency

Abstract

Seaweed industry is one of the most growing marine sector of industry in South Sulawesi. It is generally assumed that, seaweed workers are vulnerable to experience workplace injury and occupational disease. This study aims to explore determinants of occupational safety and health (OSH) problems among seaweed workers in Takalar District, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.The research is a quantitative study using cross sectional study design. Questionnaires survey were distributed among 105 seaweed workers from four districts in Takalar Regency. The data were analyzed using chi-square test and Odds Ratio (OR) analysis.The results showed that the main OHS problems among seaweed workers were work injury, work fatigue, and low back pain. Work fatigue was associated with pulse > average, work period > 1 year and duration of sunlight exposure > average. Meanwhile, work injury was associated with being female, work period > 1 year and working > 8 hours. Moreover, type of work such as maintenance, processing and all type of work were associated with low back pain.This study recommends to local government and other stakeholders to conduct interventions based on the findings of this research. A further research is needed to provide a longitudinal database on OSH problems among this subgroup of workers that help decision makers to plan a better and effective intervention.

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