A Study on Occupational Stress Management and Quality of Life among Salt Pan Workers in Vedaranyam

Abstract

Salt pan workers constitute one of the most vulnerable groups in the unorganized labour sector due to their continuous exposure to harsh environmental and occupational conditions. The present study entitled “A Study on Occupational Stress Management and Quality of Life among Salt Pan Workers in Vedaranyam” aims to assess the level of occupational stress and evaluate the quality of life of salt pan workers in the Vedaranyam region of Tamil Nadu. The study also examines the socio-economic profile of workers, identifies the major occupational and environmental factors contributing to stress, and analyses the relationship between occupational stress and quality of life. Primary data were collected from 127 salt pan workers using a structured interview schedule through the convenience sampling technique. The collected data were analysed using percentage analysis, Chi-square test, and Pearson’s correlation analysis. The findings reveal that the majority of respondents were male, middle-aged, married, possessed only primary-level education, and earned relatively low monthly incomes. Most workers had more than ten years of work experience and worked for 8–10 hours daily under extreme climatic conditions. The study found that a large proportion of respondents experienced moderate to high occupational stress due to excessive heat, heavy workload, low wages, inadequate medical facilities, and financial insecurity. The Chi-square test revealed no significant association between gender and occupational stress (p > 0.05). However, Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated a significant negative relationship between occupational stress and quality of life (r = -0.621, p < 0.01), showing that an increase in occupational stress leads to a decline in workers’ quality of life. The study concludes that improving workplace safety, providing adequate healthcare facilities, ensuring fair wages, implementing occupational welfare programmes, and strengthening social security measures are essential for reducing occupational stress and enhancing the quality of life of salt pan workers in Vedaranyam.