Abstract :
Objective: Occupational health, today, looks at a new idea, i.e., psychological health and safety
which is about safeguarding the psychological health of employee by providing a workplace that
promotes employees’ psychological well-being by preventing psychological harm to employee. The
purpose of this study is to assess the psychosocial work environment among sanitation workers.
Methods: A qualitative study was carried out during June-July, 2016 among women sanitation
workers of Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, South India. Institutional Ethical
Committee clearance and the permission from the work supervisor were obtained. Out of 33
women sanitation workers, 10 women fulfilling the inclusion criteria, selected by purposive and
criterion sampling, were identified as the discussion participants. Informed consent was obtained.
Focus group discussion was conducted to explore the opinions and views on their psychological wellbeing influenced by job satisfaction, psychosocial safety, social support, workload and physical
health. The observations were recorded and qualitative data analysis was done by ordering and
coding.
Results: The preliminary thematic analysis of data showed that all of them agree on job satisfaction,
social support, good interpersonal relations and sufficient time to complete the allotted work on a
single working day of 8 hours duration, hence psychological safety and protection. Most of them
opined that they did not have to quit the job due to work related health issues but were of the view
that in the long run, they would develop knee joint problems and backache. They suggested that
incentives and rewards need to be given to boost them. Job insecurity was a common fear among
them as it is contractual in nature.
Conclusions: Good interpersonal relationship, social support and good psychosocial environment are
the common themes. They should be given assurance on job security with periodic performance
Keyword :
Interpersonal relations, Psychological well being, Social support