OBJECTIVETo study the current situation of the prevention and treatment of silicosis in Jinshan District of Shanghai, China, and to provide a scientific basis for the introduction of preventive and control measures for the disease.

METHODSAn occupational hygienic investigation was carried out among enterprises exposed to silica dust hazard in Jinshan District using cross-sectional epidemiological study. Based on GBZ 159-2004 Specifications of air sampling for hazardous substances monitoring in the workplace and GBZ/T 192.1-2007 Method for determination of dust in the air of workplace Part 1: Total dust concentration, individual sampling and evaluation of test results were conducted among workers exposed to silica dust.

RESULTSA total of 302 workers in 30 enterprises were exposed to silica dust, and the coverage of employment injury insurance and occupational health inspection rate were 98.3% and 92.4%, respectively. The equipment rate of anti-dust respirators of the enterprises was 56.7%, and the qualification rate of silica dust monitoring in work place was 40.4%. The enterprises exposed to silica dust were mainly those who were operated in dry condition and engaged in manual work using opening-type equipment without negative pressure.

CONCLUSIONEnterprises exposed to silica dust in Jinshan District of Shanghai have safety hazards like poor production and protective equipment, incomplete protective articles, and low qualification rate of silica dust test in workplace, so occupational health protection measures need to be strengthened.