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Page No. : 49-51

ABSTRACT

A study was carried out to assess occupational health risks among veterinarians of the Chitradurga district of the Karnataka state. A total of 42 respondents were selected and administered a semi-structured questionnaire for the collection of data pertaining to their occupational health. Analysis of the data revealed, occupation related health problems in 23.8 per cent of veterinarians. The origin of health related problems was infectious in 30 per cent and non-infectious in 70 per cent of the respondent veterinarians. Direct exposure to the occupational hazard was noticed in all cases studied. Affections were traced to musculoskeletal system (50%), followed by respiratory (30%), gastro-intestinal (20%) and skin/ integument systems (10%). About 73.8 per cent of respondents followed occupational safety measures such as wearing (one or the other type) of personal protective equipments (PPE). Majority of respondents were aware of occupational safety measures; nevertheless, need for improved safety measures at the work place were envisaged. This study emphasized periodic training, health check-up, immunizations against zoonotic diseases and compulsory use of PPEs at the work place so as to prevent occupational health risks among the veterinarians.

Keywords: Disease, health risk, occupational hazard, PPE, veterinarian