Symbiohealth

Identification of Occupational Safety and Health Hazards with Job Safety Analysis (JSA) Method for Paper Core Factory Workers

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to analyze occupational hazards and health risks among Paper Core factory workers, with a particular focus on occupational diseases, especially hypertension. The research is grounded in Government Regulation No. 88 of 2019 concerning occupational health and the relevance of work-related diseases to worker safety and productivity. The study employed the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) and Job Safety Analysis (JSA) approaches, with risk analysis based on the AS/NZS 4360:2004 standard. Data were collected through observation, interviews, blood pressure measurement, and source triangulation. The findings indicate that workers are exposed to multiple risk factors, including workplace temperatures exceeding 30°C, noise levels up to 103.7 dB, dust exposure, adhesive chemicals, and heavy physical workloads. Among the 74 workers examined, 20 were diagnosed with hypertension. The analysis suggests that prolonged exposure to heat and noise significantly contributes to hypertension risk, although lifestyle factors and individual health history also play a role. Furthermore, suboptimal production facility layout was found to increase ergonomic and occupational safety risks. The study concludes that hypertension can be classified as an occupational disease among Paper Core factory workers. Implementation of risk management, improvement of facility layout, consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and routine application of JSA are recommended to reduce occupational hazards and enhance both worker safety and productivity.

The Psychological, Social, and Health Impacts of Cigarette Smoking on Youth: A Sociological investigation in Sindh, Pakistan

Abdul Rasool Khoso, Shahnaz Bhutto, Muhammad Asif, Wang Suyuhan — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Cigarette consumption represents a noteworthy health crisis internationally, posing risks especially to the youth. It is listed among the primary avoidable reasons for death internationally, with over 8 million casualties yearly, where more than 7 million are due to the direct use of tobacco and about 1.2 million are caused by second-hand smoke exposure. This research aims to investigate the psychological, social, and health risks to youth, particularly in regions like Sindh, Pakistan. This study investigates these impacts through a cross-sectional mixed-methods design involving 310 youth aged 15–25 years in Larkana, Sindh. Quantitative data was collected via structured questionnaires assessing social, psychological, and health impacts, while qualitative insights were gathered from semi-structured interviews. The quantitative analysis was done using SPSS to gather the actual figures, while the qualitative analysis was done using NVIVO software. The results revealed key predictors of social, psychological, and health impacts of smoking. Regression analysis showed that peer influence (β = 0.25, p < 0.001), smoking duration (β = 0.12, p < 0.001), and age (β = 0.08, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of social impacts. Psychological impacts were significantly influenced by smoking frequency (β = 0.18, p < 0.001), anxiety scores (β = 0.30, p < 0.001), and age (β = -0.04, p = 0.046). Health impacts were primarily driven by smoking duration (β = 0.22, p < 0.001), craving scores (β = 0.35, p < 0.001), and education level (β = -0.10, p = 0.013). Qualitative findings highlighted peer pressure, stress relief, and societal stigma as key drivers of smoking initiation. Health concerns and limited awareness of long-term risks further exacerbated smoking prevalence. The study concludes, peer pressure and social acceptance were key factors driving smoking habits, which were linked to anxiety, depression, and chronic health issues like respiratory problems. The study highlights the need to reduce stigma, raise public health awareness, and improve access to smoking cessation support, particularly for women. Policy recommendations include the need for culturally relevant anti-smoking campaigns, increased access to cessation resources, and the integration of tobacco education into school curricula.

Migration and Gender Health: Navigating Intersecting Vulnerabilities and Resilience: A case study of Lahore

Ifra Zaheer — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This qualitative study investigates the gendered health impacts of internal migration on women in Lahore, Pakistan, through in-depth interviews with ten female migrants. Employing a phenomenological approach and thematic analysis, the research explores how the migration process from pre-departure motivations through transit to urban settlement shapes physical, mental, and social well-being through an intersectional lens. The findings reveal that migration is a deeply gendered experience driven by economic precarity and shaped by gendered pressures. Participants reported significant vulnerabilities, including fear of harassment during transit, precarious living conditions in informal settlements, and formidable barriers to healthcare characterized by financial cost (mehngai) and systemic disrespect (be-izzati). These intersecting vulnerabilities of gender, poverty, and rural origin manifested in starkly gendered health outcomes, most notably a high, yet unaddressed, burden of mental distress and severely limited access to reproductive healthcare. However, the study also uncovers profound resilience, as women actively navigated these challenges through the formation of "jhuggi networks" informal community support systems that provided emotional, informational, and financial resources. The study concludes that effective public health interventions must be gender-transformative, addressing structural barriers while leveraging existing community resilience to bridge the gap in healthcare access for this vulnerable population.