BACKGROUND:
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are leading causes of mortality in India, particularly affecting the working-age population. Industrial workers are highly vulnerable due to occupational exposures (dust, chemicals), long working hours, and lifestyle risk factors. This study focuses on identifying NCD risk profiles in a plywood factory setting, where data is currently limited.

METHODS:
This was a cross-sectional observational study involving 206 male employees. Data collection involved face-to-face interviews using an adaptation of the WHO STEPS instrument and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). Physical measurements included height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure (BP). Participants were selected through simple random sampling.

RESULTS:
The study showed a high prevalence of NCD risk factors among the 206 male factory workers, with over half (55.3%) being current tobacco users and 27.7% consuming alcohol. Dietary habits were poor, characterized by low fruit and vegetable intake and frequent consumption of processed foods. While 72.8% of the workforce engaged in active commuting, metabolic risks were significant: 40.3% were overweight or obese, 72.8% exhibited central obesity, and 38% had raised blood pressure. Clinical history revealed that 7.2% and 4.4% of employees were already known to have diabetes and high cholesterol, respectively, while cardiovascular risk assessment classified 10% of the participants as having a moderate 10-year risk for a major cardiac event.

CONCLUSIONS:
There is a significant prevalence of modifiable NCD risk factors among plywood factory workers in Kolkata. The findings showed the urgent need for targeted workplace health interventions, including regular NCD screenings, tobacco cessation program and nutritional education to mitigate the future disease burden.