Prevalence of Occupational Injuries in selected Coir Industries in Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: The coir industry processes coconut fibers, and many are employed in this industry in Sri Lanka. This study aimed to find the prevalence of occupational injuries among coir workers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in 2021, in six medium-sized coir industries in Sri Lanka, each with 15-100 employees. The workers who were present at work on the two days the researchers visited the respective industries (128 of a total 214 workers) were interviewed on socio-demographics, work tasks they normally perform and occupational injuries they had experienced the last three months. Independent T-tests and Chi-square tests were used to analyze for differences between groups. Results: The mean age of the 128 interviewed workers was 45 years and 53.9% were male. 34 (26.6%) of the workers had experienced at least one injury each during the past three months. Women reported significantly more injuries than men (38.9% vs 15.9%). The workers operating machines reported significantly more injuries than workers who performed other types of work (42.3% vs 22.0%). Slipping, tripping, and falling (64%) were the most common events of injuries seen among the injured workers, followed by cuts from sharp objects or machines (20%). The most common type of injury among the workers were cuts and bruises (50%). Conclusion: At least one injury in the past three months had been experienced by 26.6 percent of the coir workers, mostly women and workers operating machines. Preventive measures are needed to minimize the risk of injuries.