Health Survey of Workers in a Rice Noodles and Meat-ball Factory, Soongnern District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, 1997 (สภาวะสุขภาพคนงานโรงงานผลิตเส้นก๋วยเตี๋ยวและลูกชิ้น อำเภอสูงเนิน จังหวัดนครราชสีมา ปี 2540)

A health survey of 200 workers of a rice noodles and meat-ball factory in Soongnern District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, was conducted in order to quantify the prevalence of food-borne diseases during Aprill-September 1997. A health surveillance system was, then developed as a preventive measure for both the workers and consumer of the products. Health hazards were identified in a walk through survey of the premise. The workers were given general physical check-ups including stool examinations. To improve their personal hygiene, a health education program was provided. Most (91.0%) had no pre-employment examination and food borne diseases had, once affected 15.5% of them. Yet, only a limited number of them (3%) continued to harbored the subjects. by stool examinations while parasites were reported in 8% of the subjects. Advocacy of some personal protective equipment (PPE) was professed among 78.5% of them. Non advocates sited inconvenience as the major hindrance. Their chest x-rays showed no anomalies. Pre-employment examination followed by annual physical check-ups are strongly recommended. In addition, a large room of personal hygiene improvement is obviously needed.