Occupational Health Issues among Police Personnel: An Exploratory Study

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Ergonomics International Journal
ISSN: 2577-2953
Occupational Health Issues among Police Personnel: An Exploratory Study
Ergonomics Int J
Occupational Health Issues among Police Personnel: An
Exploratory Study
Singh LP*
Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National
Institute of Technology, India
*Corresponding author: Lakhwinder Pal Singh, Department of Industrial and
production Engineering, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar NIT, Jalandhar 144011, India, Email:
singhl@nitj.ac.in
Abstract
Background: Among the 11 million cases of occupational diseases globally, 1.9 (17%) million cases are contributed by
India. Most studies on occupational health in India are done in industrial settings, whereas few studies have looked into
other occupational groups. Police personnel by nature of their job are continuously exposed to toxic pollutants, noise
from automobiles and long working hours of standing, poor posture, poor work centre design etc. throughout their job.
This study aimed to investigate the occupationally induced health problems (respiratory problems, musculoskeletal and
hearing problems) among police personnel in Jalandhar city and to find out the factors associated with them.
Methodology: Quantitative research model in the form of prospective type survey design was selected for this study.
Total 160 subjects were selected from Police department of Jalandhar City based on non-probability convenience
sampling. Data was collected using questionnaire including questions on respiratory problems, low back pain and noise
induced hearing loss respectively. Descriptive statistic and chi square was used for data analysis.
Results: The prevalence of overall respiratory problems, low back pain, and noise induced hearing loss was 64%, 68%
and 46% respectively. Work related factors like number of service years, type of duty, posting location, nature of shift,
working hours near roadside per day were significantly associated with the outcome. Lack of proper use of protective
aids (face masks, hearing aids) contributes to respiratory and hearing problems. Improper design of car seat, duty belt,
improper posture and driving also contributes in low back pain.
Conclusion: Police personnel have significantly higher prevalence of occupational health problems. They should be
educated on ergonomics, posture, working hour breaks in between work, use of protective aids to improve healthy life
and performance in duty.
Keywords: Respiratory problems; Low back pain; Noise induced hearing loss; Police personnel
Research Article
Volume 3 Issue 6
Received Date: November 25, 2019
Published Date: December 30, 2019
DOI: 10.23880/eoij-16000223

Ergonomics International Journal
Singh LP. Occupational Health Issues among Police Personnel: An
Exploratory Study. Ergonomics Int J 2019, 3(6): 000223.
Copyright© Singh LP.
2
Abbreviations: COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
disease; MSDs: Musculoskeletal Disorders; LBP: Low Back
Pain; NIHL: Noise Induced Hearing Loss; PPE: Personal
Protective Equipment; SAHI: Society of Aid and Hearing
Impaired.
Introduction and Literature
According to WHO (2013) Occupational lung diseases
is a major contributor of the global occupational disease
burden and is a main focus of occupational health
programs worldwide. Work-related occupational
exposure to air borne particulates accounts for about
386000 deaths and nearly 6.6 million [1]. The bulk of this
is contributed by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease
(COPD) followed by asthma and pneumoconiosis. In
industrial settings, workers are also found with
respiratory symptoms [2]. The traffic police personnel are
exposed to significant amounts of traffic related ambient
air pollution, are detected for mainly chronic respiratory
diseases like chronic cough, chronic phlegm, wheezing,
Dyspnea along with decreased lung function [3-5]. It has
been established that major share of the traffic related air
pollution is due to the emissions from automobiles which
in many cities of the developing world do not follow
emission standards. Rapid industrialization and
urbanization have aggravated the rising levels of ambient
air pollution in the cities especially in the developing
countries including the Asian countries. The most
commonly reported respiratory symptoms associated
with traffic pollution in children as well as among
occupational groups exposed to traffic pollution include
bronchitis, asthma, wheezing, breathlessness, dry cough
and cough with phlegm, reduced lung functions and other
nasal problems [6,7]. The respiratory diseases due to
traffic pollution get increased with time. The initial acute
symptoms due to air pollution get worsen and cause
chronic respiratory problems. Police personnel posted in
the traffic duty are exposed to these pollutants for 6-8
hours a day. Those who are exposed to traffic for longer
period of time have increased respiratory problems [8].
The traffic police as well as law and order police
personnel are the worst sufferers because by nature of
their job, they are continuously exposed to the toxic
pollutants emitted from the automobiles. Therefore, they
are more prone to like bronchitis, pneumonia, decreased
lung function and even other health problems which
include hearing impairment, eye related problems, etc.
[9]. However, previously [5] did a comparative cross
sectional study in Jalgon city, India among 60 nonsmoking
traffic police and 60 healthy young adults showed 40% of
traffic police had frequent cough, 10% had shortness of
breath and 27% suffered from irritation in respiratory
tract. Singh V Sharma, et al. [10] Satapathy D, et al. [11],
Gupta s, et al. [12]studied that among traffic police in
India also showed decreased lung function and its evident
with increase duration of work period. Most of the above
mentioned studies have presented their results on the
basis of relatively small sample size ranging from 30 to
80. Karita K, et al. [13] did a study and found that factors
like duration of work hours, years of residential living in
polluted cities also contributes to the respiratory
problems. Longer the duration of these factors more
worsen is the problem.
In case of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) Lee, et al.
(2012) [6] in his study discussed that back muscles act to
support the spine and maintain the stability of the spine;
weakness of back muscles can lead to low back pain and is
known as a main cause of recurrence. Generally we found
that people stand for long time from morning to night
continuously, but the sitting or standing system is poor,
most of the cases poor posture can lead to pain. The back
is not supported; as a result their lumbar spine stays
incorrect position resulting various ligament structures
on full stretch. Traffic police have to do all type of
activities themselves to maintain the traffic. These types
of activity include lifting, twisting & repeated movements
of the spine. As far as low back pain (LBP) is concerned,
different officers arranged the equipment on their belts in
different ways. Arranging the equipment anteriorly on the
belt was associated with the largest increase in LBP. On
the other side, the typical postures & activities of traffic
police make them one of the most vulnerable groups of
being LBP. They bend frequently, twist right & left, &
transfer the standing systems of the traffic police are
inappropriate, without back support Most of the cases the
posture is too poor to cause the LBP.
Traffic police personnel are also found at an increased
risk of noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) for the
environmental noise exposure. Prevalence of
occupational noise induced hearing loss amongst traffic
police personnel and found that a very significant number
(81.2%) showed sensor neural hearing loss [14].
Occupational noise induced hearing loss and hearing
threshold profile at high frequencies and concluded that
Prevalence of hearing loss symptom and hearing
thresholds were more in exposed group than in control
group. There has been a significant hearing loss at high
frequency as compared to lower ones. Audiometer
revealed notch at 4 kHz with less effect at 6 or 8 kHz,
cumulative effect of duration of exposure.

Ergonomics International Journal
Singh LP. Occupational Health Issues among Police Personnel: An
Exploratory Study. Ergonomics Int J 2019, 3(6): 000223.
Copyright© Singh LP.
3
In a study to assess the prevalence of hearing loss in
police constable and officers working in heavy traffic
areas 60 dB(A) and to correlate the hearing loss with
duration exposure to noise. It was found that, tearing loss
is very common in police constables and police officers
who are working in heavy traffic zones [15].
Dennis Marcus Mathew also conducted a sample
survey on effect of noise pollution on traffic policemen of
Hyderabad city, carried out by Society of Aid and Hearing
Impaired (SAHI), the findings of the study indicate that
76% of 45 cops screened, had noise induced auditory
effects and among these had completed 5 years in traffic
wing had hearing loss in various degrees. The traffic
policemen do not use any personal protective equipment
(PPE) and have varying degree of hearing loss due to
longer period exposure to noise pollution. In Varanasi city
about traffic noise pollution on exposed people, showed
that 85% of people were disturbed by traffic noise, 90%
of people are reported that noise is main cause of
headache, high BP, dizziness and fatigue and interfering
the daily activities [16].
Methodology
In this study, a comprehensive questionnaire was
formulated to assess all the information regarding various
hazardous parameters data was collected through
questionnaire, with prior consent from the participants.
The questionnaire included demographic description,
questions relating to low back pain, respiratory problems
and noise induced hearing loss. Demographic data details
includes age , gender, address, height/weight, marital
status, level of education, Current department of work,
years of service completed in department. The subjective
data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 17
software.
Results
Socio-Demographic Information
The study was conducted on 160 police personnel of
Jalandhar city. Out of the participants 131 (82%) were
male and 29(18%) were female. Among the participants
27(17%) were under the age of 30 years, 33(21%) were
in the range of 31 -40 years, 83(52%) were in the range of
41-50 years and 17(11%) were above 50 years of age.
Higher number of participants 83(52%) were in the range
of 41-50 years of age. Out of 160 132(83%) were married
and 28(18%) were unmarried. Body type (BMI) of the
participants 91(57%) were normal body type and
69(43%) were overweight (Table 1).
Variables
Opts
Frequency(n)
Percentage (%)
Gender
Male
131
82%
Female
29
18%
Age (in years)
Under 30
27
17%
31-40
33
21%
41-50
83
52%
Over 50
17
11%
Marital Status
Married
132
83%
Unmarried
28
18%
BMI
Normal
91
57%
Overweight
69
43%
Table 1: Socio Demographic Information.
Work Related Factors
Work related factors like type of duty, frequent
posting location, year of service, working hours per day,
number of working hours near road side, frequent shift
posted were looked into. Among total respondents (160),
51(32%) were from administration duty and more than
half of the respondents 109 (68%) were from field job.
Out of 109, 47(29%) did traffic duty and 62(30%) did
patrolling duty. As per posting location 66(41%) were
posted at crowded junctions, 44(28%) were posted at
highways and 50(31%) were posted at other locations
like offices etc.
Number of years of service of the police personnels
was divided into 5 categories. Out of 160 respondents
14(9%) were in 0- 4 years of service, 32(20%) were in 5-
9 years of services, 15(9%) were in 10-14 years of
service, 18(11%) were in 15- 19 years of services and
maximum number of respondents 81(51%) were in
service for more than 20 years. All the 160 police

Ergonomics International Journal
Singh LP. Occupational Health Issues among Police Personnel: An
Exploratory Study. Ergonomics Int J 2019, 3(6): 000223.
Copyright© Singh LP.
4
personnel worked for more than 6 hours per day. Among
them 52(32%) worked near roadside for less than 6
hours and 108(68%) worked for more than 6 hours near
the roadside. According to nature of shift, 52(33%) gave
24 hours duty i.e. for all the three shifts. 12(8%) worked
in morning shift, 36(23%) in afternoon shift, 35(22%) in
night shift. 20(13%) worked for 2 shifts i.e. morning and
night, 5(3%) worked for afternoon and night shift (Table
2).
Variables
Opts
Frequency(n)
Percentage (%)
Type of Duty
Traffic duty
47
29%
Patrolling Duty
62
39%
Administration
51
32%
Posting location
Crowded Junctions
66
41%
Highways
44
28%
Others
50
31%
Year of Service
0-4years
14
9%
5-9years
32
20%
10-14years
15
9%
15-19years
18
11%
Over 20years
81
51%
Working hours per day
<_6hours
0
0%
>6hours
160
100%
Working hours near road side
per day
<_6hours
52
32%
>6hours
108
68%
Nature of shift posted
Morning
12
8%
Afternoon
36
23%
Night
35
22%
Morning and Night
20
13%
Afternoon and Night
5
3%
All the three shifts
52
33%
Table 2: Characteristics of study sample based on work related factors.
Prevalence of Respiratory Problems
Among all of the 160 participants, 103(64%)
participants had been suffered from respiratory problems
and 57(36%) participants had not been suffered from
respiratory problems (Table 3).
Variables
Opts
Frequency
Percentage
Respiratory Problem
No
57
36%
Yes
103
64%
Table 3: Prevalence of overall Respiratory Problem among Police Personnel.
Prevalence of Low Back Pain
Among all of the 160 participants 109(68%)
participants had been suffered from LBP and 51 (32%)
participants had not been suffered from LBP (Table 4).
Variables
Opts
Frequency
Percentage
Low Back Pain
Yes
109
68%
No
51
32%
Table 4: Prevalence of low back pain among the police personnel.

Ergonomics International Journal
Singh LP. Occupational Health Issues among Police Personnel: An
Exploratory Study. Ergonomics Int J 2019, 3(6): 000223.
Copyright© Singh LP.
5
Prevalence of Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Among all of the 160 respondents 73(46%) suffered
from noise induced hearing loss and 87(54%) had not
been suffered from this problem (Table 5).
Variables
Opts
Frequency
Percentage
Noise Induced hearing Loss
Yes
73
46%
No
87
54%
Table 5: Prevalence of noise induced hearing loss among police personnel.
Conclusion
The present study concludes that occupational health
problems are very common in police personnel. The
results showed that prevalence of respiratory problems,
low back pain and noise induced hearing loss was 64%,
68%and 46% respectively. The frequency and intensity of
these problems is related to the physical requirements of
the job. Possible risk factors include age, year of service,
type of duty, working hours, working posture, improper
use of protective equipment etc.
Recommendations
It is seen that lack of awareness and guidance of the
tasks undertaken is the main reason for existing health
problems. Police personnel should be educated on
ergonomics, posture, working hour breaks in between
work, use of protective aids to improve healthy life and
performance in duty.
Ergonomic interventions are necessary to prevent the
complaints of low back pain. The existence of a positive
association between ergonomic problems and LBP
implies that even modest modifications could result in a
significant decrease in frequency of problems.
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Singh LP. Occupational Health Issues among Police Personnel: An
Exploratory Study. Ergonomics Int J 2019, 3(6): 000223.
Copyright© Singh LP.
6
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