Up to 93% of industrial workers in Thailand have accidents while at work

BANGKOK, April 20 (TNA) - About 200,000 industrial workers were admitted to hospitals for treatment in 2011 of which 93 per cent of them received either injuries or faced accidents while at work, said Dr. Somkiat Siriruttanapruk, Director of Department of Disease Control’s Bureau of Occupational and Environmental Diseases. The rest of the factory workers in that year were admitted to hospitals after suffering from muscle pains or skin diseases, Dr. Somkiat said. In agricultural sector, farmers suffer from chemical substances and pesticide most. His worries were made ahead of the upcoming National Labour Day which falls on May 1. Dr. Somkiat cited reports as saying that workers aged between 20-30 suffered injuries most due to inexperience in their work and recklessness while those aged above 30 fell sick from various diseases. Most of the patients were male. In order to help workers to have good health, business entrepreneurs must lay out regulations, and work plans, train their workers and give them sufficient break during the office hours, he said. (TNA)