[Table/Fig-5]:
Morbidity pattern experienced by the welders over the past one year (n=155).
| Morbidity pattern | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Wounds | 119 | 76.8 |
| Burns | 60 | 38.7 |
| Peeling of the skin | 40 | 25.8 |
| Spark injuries | 37 | 23.9 |
| Metal fume fever | 21 | 13.5 |
| Hearing impairment | 4 | 2.6 |
| Skin allergies | 2 | 1.3 |
| Ocular morbidities | ||
| Watering | 104 | 67.1 |
| Redness | 102 | 65.8 |
| Burning sensation | 83 | 53.5 |
| Flash burns | 51 | 32.9 |
| Foreign body | 49 | 31.6 |
| Photophobia | 38 | 24.5 |
| Blurring of vision | 11 | 7.1 |
| Pterygium | 1 | 0.6 |
| Musculoskeletal morbidities | ||
| Back ache | 99 | 63.9 |
| Joint pain | 10 | 6.4 |
| Neck pain | 9 | 5.8 |
| Respiratory system morbidities | ||
| Cough | 24 | 15.5 |
| Breathlessness | 6 | 3.9 |