Occupational hazards to the tannery workers in the Unnao tanning area

The industries in general are invariably associated with some occupational hazards. These hazards are associated with health, machinery, processes, and other variables which perpetually affect its workers in various ways. The study is based on the tanning industry and the occupational hazards associated with it. The study is based on the Unnao tanning industry in Unnao District, Uttar Pradesh. To bring out the variety in the data, a total of 100 workers from various industrial regions and procedures are interviewed. Though most of the workers fell under the healthy BMI (66%), the workers were prone to the harmful effects of the contaminated air, water and noise inside the factory, in addition to unsafe chemicals, informal machinery training and workplace accidents. Most reported problems among the workers are Skin problems (46%) and Body Pain (40%) which are most prevalent among the tanning workers followed by Fatigue (37%), Breathless and respiratory problems (27%), Headache (19%), Loss of Appetite and other gastrointestinal problems (13%), Eye Irritation (10%), Leg, thigh and knee Pain (12%), Shoulder and back pain (9%) etc. Most of the workers (nearly 58% of total workers) suffer from more than one problem. Workers in the tanning process have exhibited significantly more incidence as compared to the other processes. In light of these observations, the industry and the governing bodies should take some substantial actions through training, education and awareness amongst the workers that they are able to identify the problems and take proper measures on their own end. Additionally, industries should be subject to strict disciplinary action when they are unable to regulate hazards in their workplaces.