Effectiveness of the occupational health education program on knowledge and behaviors in preventing lead exposure and blood lead levels of plate production employees in a battery production factory in Samut Prakan province
Abstract:
This research is quasi-experimental research, measuring the effect of vocational health education program before and after the program intervention. Blood lead levels of 21 employees were also tested The vocational health education program based on the concept of theory of steps to change behavior, Prochaska et al by integrating activities according to employees intention of changing behavior to prevent lead exposure as a guideline for designing action plans. Activities were as follows: Activities to educate about lead poisoning, Participation group activities between supervisors, and notification activities via LINE groups. In order for the sample group to change their behavior to prevent lead exposure and reduce blood lead levels in 12 weeks, the tools used consisted of collecting data including personal information, Work history, personal safety equipment, Lead poisoning knowledge, assessment and lead exposure prevention behavior. Tools used for experiments Included a guide to lead poisoning. Activity plan between supervisors and employees Warning communication via LINE between sample groups and safety officials Lead exposure prevention behavior record of the sample group was collected between November 2023 to February 2024. Data were analyzed using percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Paired t-test statistics. The results of the experiment found that after participating in the vocational health education program, employees had better knowledge about lead poisoning and had better behavior to prevent exposure than before participating in the vocational health education program with statistical significance. It was found that after participating in the vocational health education program, blood lead levels decreased with statistical significance. Therefore, the establishment should apply the vocational health education program continuously by setting it as a policy guideline to create a change in employee exposure prevention behavior.