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Ratan Singh, MD, Family and Community Medicine, Al Tahady University, PO BOX 16, Sirt, Libya, Shaban Shakshuki, MBBS, Ph D, Occupational health,Community Medicine, Al Fateh University, PO Box 13229, Tripoli, Libya, Muftah Khalid, MBBS, Health, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, RASCO, Rasla Nuf, Libya, 00218 -21- 3605177 ext 25250/2, kml@yahoo.com, and Muraja Dihoom, MBBS, DCM, Health, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, Arabian Oil Gulf Company, 263, Benghazi, Libya.
Rasla nuf Company (RASCO) is one of the major partners of National Oil Corporation (NOC) in Libya which is engaged in exploration site, refinery industry, polyethylene productions and exportation of various components. It was a cross-sectional study of the health problems, susceptibly and safety measures among RASCO employees during the year 2001. For health status assessment records of 251 (5% sample) were examined for a period of one year in retrospect. Personal visits were made to verify safety of work environment, equipment & facilities. Interview was conducted with safety engineer for evaluation of safety measures. The work place environment was found hazardous mainly in relation to noise, chemical agents and radiation without any regular surveillance system for health of workers. Health& safety services were grossly deficient in a number of areas. Among 251 workers during last one year period there were 442 episodes of illnesses out of which 189 (44.8%) were for acute diseases, 114 (25.8%) for chronic, 83 (18.8%) for health check up and 47 (10.6 %) for occupational injuries. More than half (54.9%)of employees had visited the field clinic for new complaints; 34.5% for follow up; 36.5% for routine checkup and 9.7 % due to industrial injuries. The commonest intervention was medical (64.6 %) followed by surgical (11.5%) and observation (2.3%). Nearly one-fifth needed referral outside the industry. Up to the present time RASCO has been trying to balance occupational health services on two legs. It is high time to establish comprehensive occupational safety and health in Libya which is still in its early stages of development.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Occupational Health,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.