Publication:

Prevalence of occupational health hazards, stress level and associated factors among traffic police officers in Delhi: a cross-sectional study

Background Traffic police officers are routinely exposed to adverse environmental, ergonomic, and psychosocial conditions due to prolonged outdoor duties, vehicular pollution, noise, and occupational stress. These exposures place them at increased risk of physical, social, and mental health problems, particularly in metropolitan cities such as Delhi. Objectives were to assess the prevalence of occupational health hazards and perceived stress among traffic police officers and to determine the association between stress and selected demographic variables.

Methods A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 140 traffic police officers working in selected regions of Delhi. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire assessing occupational health hazards and the perceived stress scale-14 (PSS-14). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis.

Results Occupational health hazards were reported by 37.9% of participants. Mental health hazards were most prevalent (80.83%), followed by social (74.84%) and physical hazards. Common physical problems included respiratory, gastrointestinal, eye, and musculoskeletal complaints. The mean perceived stress score was 15.89, indicating overall low stress. Low stress was reported by 62.9% of officers, moderate stress by 35.7%, and high stress by 1.4%. Stress levels were significantly associated with education (p=0.014) and substance use (p=0.047).

Conclusions Traffic police officers face considerable occupational health risks, particularly related to mental and social well-being. Regular health screening, stress management interventions, and enforcement of occupational safety measures are recommended.