BODY-MASS INDEX OF TANNERY WORKERS IN KANPUR, INDIA

During two cross sectional surveys in 1988 and 1994 the body mass inde x among tannery workers in Kanpur, India and its association with expo sure to chemicals, dust and awkward ergonomic conditions, socio-econom ic and health status were studied. Fifty six per cent of the workers h ad in 1988 a BMI of less than 18.50, the cut-off value for malnutritio n, In 1994 the proportion of malnourished workers had decreased to 41 per cent, being statistically significant lower than in 1988, Workers with a high exposure to lifting weights of more than 20 kg had signifi cantly lower BMI than workers without this exposure. No other differen ces in mean BMI were found between workers without exposure to chemica ls, dust and other awkward ergonomic conditions and workers with high or very high exposures, nor did the mean BMI of workers with occupatio nal related conditions such as dermatitis, work related respiratory sy mptoms and low back pain differ from those without these conditions. T here was no association between mean BMI and industrial modifications, In the 1994 survey workers who took sick leave in the year prior to t he survey, workers of small/medium sized tanneries and workers without an ESI card had significantly lower BMI than workers without sick lea ve, workers of large tanneries and workers with an ESI card, Mean BMI of labourers with a monthly income of less than Ks 550 was significant ly lower than that of tannery staff not engaged in leather work in thi s income group, No association was found between mean BMI and smoking, use of alcohol, educational level and income, The nutritional status of labourers in developing countries deserves more attention within th e field of occupational health and safety.