Table 1

Study population

Distribution of respondents (n=968)
No.%
Ethnicity
    Malay73475.8
    Non-Malay23424.2
Marital status
    Unmarried43745.1
    Married49551.1
    Divorced and widowed363.8
Age group (y)
    <2530331.3
    25–3432833.9
    35–4429330.3
    45–54444.5
    Mean (SD)30.5 (7.9)
Education level
    No formal education60.6
    Primary636.5
    Lower secondary26026.9
    Upper secondary and higher63966.0
No. of years worked in present factory
    1–223123.9
    >2–524625.4
    >5–1016116.6
    >10–2024525.3
    >20858.8
    Mean (SD)8.9 (7.5)
Job designation
    Operator89091.9
    Line leader788.1
Work schedule
    Fixed shifts909.3
    Rotating 8 hour shift58660.6
    Rotating 12 hour shift29230.1
Work section
    Wafer polishing939.6
    Semiconductor assembly
        Front of line18419.0
        Middle of line18218.8
        End of line46147.6
    Parts assembly485.0
Type of work task
    Automated47649.2
    Semi-automated13814.3
    Manual12613.0
    Inspection19219.8
    Supervisory363.7
No. of years worked in present section
    1–234735.8
    >2–528329.2
    >5–1017418.0
    >10–2013714.2
    >20272.8
    Mean (SD)6.0 (5.8)