article · Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology
A cross-sectional study investigated occupational injuries and associated factors among 200 cement factory workers in Chlef, Algeria. The research found that 26.5% of participants reported 64 occupational injuries, predominantly affecting hands (44%) and feet (38%). Machinery was responsible for 39% of injuries, while falls accounted for 27%. Multivariate analysis indicated that working in a quarry, lower education levels, and longer working years were significantly linked to higher injury rates. This suggests that long-term exposure to risks, rather than just inexperience, is a critical factor, highlighting a need to reassess current safety training and monitoring for experienced workers.
This research is important because it identifies specific risks and contributing factors to occupational injuries in the cement industry, which typically has high accident rates. Understanding these factors can help organisations develop more effective safety programmes and policies, ultimately improving worker health and reducing disabilities in a critical industrial sector.
This research provides foundational data for developing targeted occupational health and safety interventions within the cement industry. It could inform the creation of specialised safety training modules, risk assessment tools, and protective equipment guidelines for factory management and occupational health organisations. The findings are early-stage research, offering insights that can guide policy improvements and the design of preventative measures for workers, particularly those in quarries or with long service.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Even though accident rates in cement industry tend to be higher than in other manufacturing sectors and significantly contribute to overall worker disabilities and illnesses, they are reported poorly. The aim of our cross-sectional study was to assess occupational injuries and associated factors among cement factory workers in the city of Chlef, Algeria using a questionnaire distributed to 200 workers who agreed to participate in the study. We found that 53 participants working in a cement mill (26.5 %) reported having 64 occupational injuries, which mostly affected their hands (44 %) and feet (38 %). Machinery accounted for 39 % of all injuries, while falls accounted for 27 %. Multivariate analysis revealed that work in a quarry, lower education, and longer working years were significantly associated with higher injury rates. Long-term exposure to risks, rather than just inexperience, highlights the need for a reassessment of ongoing safety training and monitoring for experienced workers. Future research should also explore how organisational factors such as workload, work hours, job stress, and the state of machinery contribute to the risk of occupational injuries. An approach combining quantitative and qualitative data from workers and management across cement plants in Algeria and the region could provide an even more comprehensive view of occupational risks and safety practices and help contextualise these findings for policy improvements.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.2478/aiht-2025-76-3929
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
