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A review of occupational health hazards and working conditions of Auto rickshaw drivers of Kannur district
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Abstract: Auto rickshaws are the commonly preferred vehicle for transportation by single passengers or a small group of passengers for a short duration of distance and important mode of transportation both in urban and semi urban area. It provides more employment opportunities for wide range of people especially those who are unskilled and lack better education. Moreover the drivers were facing some health problems because of the nature of their working atmosphere. The present study focuses on occupational health hazards and working condition of auto rickshaw drivers in Kannur district. The study using descriptive analysis, explored in detail the occupational health hazards of auto rickshaw drivers to understand the important work related health issues that they face. The study also helps to understand the working condition of auto rickshaw drivers on the basis of their monthly income, monthly expenditure, etc.
The study found that, the auto rickshaw drivers face many work related health problems. The female participation in this field was very low. They face occupational health hazards like headache, back pain, neck pain, knee pain, ankle pain, wrist pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, eye complaints, asthma, dust allergy, cough, urine infection, gastric, tendons, fatigue and frequent fever. It is also found that irrespective of men and women they suggested for providing better sanitation facility in every halting stations.
Key terms: Auto rickshaw drivers, Occupational health hazards, Working condition
1.1 - BACKGROUND
Auto rickshaws are the most important mode of transportation both in urban and semi urban areas. It is a motorized version of the old pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw. It was first invented in Japan and from there it was shipped to different countries of the world. Auto rickshaw is the commonly preferred vehicle for transportation by single passengers or a small group of passengers for a short duration of distance. As compared to taxis, auto rickshaws are cheaper. India was the largest manufacturer of three wheelers in 2018. As urbanization takes place all over the world, especially in the case of India, people choose auto rickshaw as a better mode of transportation. And it gives them more privacy than all the other public vehicles.
Auto rickshaw plays an important role in the life of public, at the same time the auto drivers face many occupational health problems which many of us are not aware of. One of the important among them is the respiratory issues because of increase in air pollution. As the working environment become more polluted and spending more than ten hours in the same condition leads to cough, breathlessness etc. It is not only the occupational health problems faced by auto rickshaw drivers; there are several other issues such as back pain, wrist pain, cardiovascular diseases, headache, ankle pain etc. This occurs mainly because of the vibration, dust, the sitting position of auto rickshaw drivers etc. Besides these, other occupational health problems also arise because of the changes in the life styles like irregular eating, over consumption of alcohol, smoking, and tobacco consumption.
1.2 - SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Auto rickshaws are ubiquitous in Indian cities. They play an important role in urban mobility by serving as an intermediate public transport mode and providing taxi like services. It provides more employment opportunities for wide range of people especially those who are unskilled and uneducated. Auto rickshaws are an important part of urban mobility and a step to improving sustainable transportation, as well as quality of life in Indian cities. Integrating auto rickshaw services as a feeder mode complements public transport and door to door services, providing an alternative to private vehicles. They are the principal input in determining the productivity of the road transportation sector in the state.
Despite this role, the health problems of the drivers have not received significant attention. Due to the increase in air pollution and there by dust wind in most of the Indian cities results in respiratory issues among people especially to the auto rickshaw drivers who were always working in this environment. Government policies such as regulating
The study found that, the auto rickshaw drivers face many work related health problems. The female participation in this field was very low. They face occupational health hazards like headache, back pain, neck pain, knee pain, ankle pain, wrist pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, eye complaints, asthma, dust allergy, cough, urine infection, gastric, tendons, fatigue and frequent fever. It is also found that irrespective of men and women they suggested for providing better sanitation facility in every halting stations.
Key terms: Auto rickshaw drivers, Occupational health hazards, Working condition
1.1 - BACKGROUND
Auto rickshaws are the most important mode of transportation both in urban and semi urban areas. It is a motorized version of the old pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw. It was first invented in Japan and from there it was shipped to different countries of the world. Auto rickshaw is the commonly preferred vehicle for transportation by single passengers or a small group of passengers for a short duration of distance. As compared to taxis, auto rickshaws are cheaper. India was the largest manufacturer of three wheelers in 2018. As urbanization takes place all over the world, especially in the case of India, people choose auto rickshaw as a better mode of transportation. And it gives them more privacy than all the other public vehicles.
Auto rickshaw plays an important role in the life of public, at the same time the auto drivers face many occupational health problems which many of us are not aware of. One of the important among them is the respiratory issues because of increase in air pollution. As the working environment become more polluted and spending more than ten hours in the same condition leads to cough, breathlessness etc. It is not only the occupational health problems faced by auto rickshaw drivers; there are several other issues such as back pain, wrist pain, cardiovascular diseases, headache, ankle pain etc. This occurs mainly because of the vibration, dust, the sitting position of auto rickshaw drivers etc. Besides these, other occupational health problems also arise because of the changes in the life styles like irregular eating, over consumption of alcohol, smoking, and tobacco consumption.
1.2 - SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Auto rickshaws are ubiquitous in Indian cities. They play an important role in urban mobility by serving as an intermediate public transport mode and providing taxi like services. It provides more employment opportunities for wide range of people especially those who are unskilled and uneducated. Auto rickshaws are an important part of urban mobility and a step to improving sustainable transportation, as well as quality of life in Indian cities. Integrating auto rickshaw services as a feeder mode complements public transport and door to door services, providing an alternative to private vehicles. They are the principal input in determining the productivity of the road transportation sector in the state.
Despite this role, the health problems of the drivers have not received significant attention. Due to the increase in air pollution and there by dust wind in most of the Indian cities results in respiratory issues among people especially to the auto rickshaw drivers who were always working in this environment. Government policies such as regulating
How to Cite:
[1] Dr. T. Shameerdas, “A review of occupational health hazards and working conditions of Auto rickshaw drivers of Kannur district,” International Advanced Research Journal in Science, Engineering and Technology (IARJSET), DOI: 10.17148/IARJSET.2022.9512
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.