Occupational Hazards Among the Agricultural Workers in a Rural Area of South India

Background: Agriculture is one of the most hazardous occupations, employing around 60% of India’s workforce. Agricultural workers face occupational hazards in the form of physical, chemical, biological, mechanical, ergonomic, psychosocial, and so on. This study assessed the physical, chemical, biological, and mechanical health hazards among agricultural workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 agricultural workers selected through multistage random sampling in a rural area to assess their occupational hazards. Results: Physical hazards were the most common hazards reported by 390 workers (97.5%), followed by mechanical hazards by 200(50%), and biological hazards by 79(19.7%). Chemical hazards were noted in 136(86.4%) out of 155 participants who used chemicals in the form of pesticides and insecticides. Conclusion: All agricultural workers experience one or the other types of occupational hazards. These hazards have a bearing on the quality of life among the agricultural workers who form the primary workforce in our country and contribute significantly to the economy. It is crucial to ensure a robust health information system to track down and respond to agricultural workers’ various health events, develop and implement a need-based intervention program through the formal healthcare system, and prevent and avert occupational health hazards in this group.