Occupational health problems of highway restaurant workers of Pune, India

To meet the ever-increasing demand for new cuisines, the catering industry in India is becoming more prominent day by day. According to a recent estimate, more than two million restaurants are now dominating the present scenario of the Indian catering industry. The health hazards in restaurants vary according to the place that a worker is employed. The hazards among kitchen staff include several different types of accidents such as burns from deep fryers, slipping on grease and cuts from knives, whereas musculoskeletal disorders are more common among waiters and helpers who usually bear load. The present cross-sectional study included 127 workers from 15 restaurants and dhabas situated at Pune-Mumbai high way. Interview technique followed by clinical examination was the tool for data collection. Musculoskeletal symptoms such as low back pain, fatigue, body ache and pain in limbs were present in 18 (14.2%) of the workers. Gastrointestinal complaints such as heartburn, abdomen pain, stomatitis, etc. were reported by 12 (9.4%) subjects, while skin-related symptoms, such as itching and discoloration were reported in 12 (9.4%) subjects. Seventy-three (57.5%) of the subjects were free from any symptoms.