China ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Organic Chemicals ; adverse effects ; Solvents ; adverse effects ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo perform a sampling survey of occupational hazard in typical industrial enterprises in Guangzhou, China, by means of sentinel surveillance, to understand the classification, distribution, and concentration/intensity of occupational hazard as well as the characteristics and development of occupational health management in Guangzhou, and to provide a scientific basis for occupational health supervision.

METHODSFifteen enterprises in information technology (IT), shipbuilding, chemical, leather and footwear, and auto repair industries were enrolled as subjects. Dynamic surveillance for occupational hazard and occupational health management was performed in workplaces of those enterprises.

RESULTSThe overall overproof rate of occupational hazard in the 15 sentinel enterprises from 2012 to 2014 was 6.16% (45/731). There was no significant difference in the overproof rate between the three years (P > 0.05). During the three years, enterprises in shipbuilding industry had significant higher overproof rates than those in other industries (P < 0.05). According to the results of occupational health management questionnaire, the overall coincidence rate of survey items was 57.88% (393/679); enterprises in IT industry had significant lower coincidence rates than those in other industries in 2012 and 2014 (47.62%, 29.63%; P < 0.05), while enterprises in leather and footwear industry had significant lower coincidence rates than those in other industries in 2013 (40.63%; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe enterprises in shipbuilding industry are the key to the prevention and control of occupational hazard in Guangzhou. To strengthen surveillance for occupational health in workplaces in Guangzhou, it is important to enhance occupation health supervision among small and micro enterprises and develop continuous sentinel surveillance for occupational hazard in key industries.

China ; Humans ; Industry ; Occupational Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo provide data for the occupational health supervision by analyzing the occupational health status in manufacturing industry in Guangzhou, China.

METHODSThe occupational health investigation was performed in 280 enterprises randomly selected from 8 industries based on industry stratification. According to the occupational health standards, 198 out of the 280 enterprises were supervised and monitored. Sample testing was performed in 3~5 workplaces where workers were exposed to the highest concentration/intensity of occupational hazard for the longest time. Comparative analyses of the overproof rates of hazard were performed among enterprises, workplaces, and testing items from different industries.

RESULTSThe concentrations of occupational hazard in 42.93% (85/198) of enterprises and 22.96% (200/871) of workplaces were above the limit concentration. The most severe hazards were the noises in shipbuilding and wooden furniture industries and the welding fumes in shipbuilding industry. Less than 30% of enterprises were able to provide occupational health examination and periodic test reports of occupational hazard in workplaces. The rate of the workers with abnormal occupational health examination results and the need for reexamination reached 6.63% (832/12 549), and they were mostly from shipbuilding, wooden furniture, and chemical industries.

CONCLUSIONThe occupational health supervision should be strengthened in enterprises, and hazard from noises and dusts should be selectively controlled or reduced. The publication of relevant data and information of occupational health in enterprises should be promoted to enhance social supervision.

Chemical Industry ; China ; Dust ; Humans ; Interior Design and Furnishings ; Manufacturing Industry ; statistics & numerical data ; Noise, Occupational ; Occupational Exposure ; statistics & numerical data ; Occupational Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Welding ; Workplace

Animals ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Fibrosis ; Herbicides ; poisoning ; Lentivirus ; Lung ; pathology ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; pathology ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Rats

Humans ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; pathology

Humans ; Occupational Health ; Occupational Health Services

OBJECTIVETo provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of occupational diseases by the analysis of existing major occupational hazards and health conditions of workers in a large shipbuilding factory.

METHODSField investigation of occupational conditions was conducted to examine the existence of occupational hazards from 2009 to 2012 in a large shipbuilding factory, and then the results of physical examination among its workers were analyzed.

RESULTSOther than the metal dust (total dust), the levels of other dusts and manganese dioxide were beyond the national standard to various degrees, and through a sampling point detection, it was found that the levels of manganese dioxide exceeded the standard by 42.8%. The maximum time-weighted average concentration in individuals was 27.927 mg/m(3), much higher than the national standard limit. For harmful gas detection in individuals, xylene was 38.4%above the standard level (the highest concentration reached 1447.7 mg/m(3)); moreover, both toluene and ethylbenzene exceeded the national standard at different levels. Among the noise-exposed workers, 71%worked in the environment where the daily noise was above the limit of the national standard (85 dB). Physical examinations in 2010 and 2012 showed that the abnormal rate of audiometry in workers was higher than 15%.

CONCLUSIONDust (total dust), manganese dioxide, benzene, and noise are the main occupational hazards among the workers in the large shipbuilding factory, and strict protection and control for these hazards should be implemented for the workers in the factory.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Construction Industry ; Dust ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Noise, Occupational ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Ships

OBJECTIVETo identify the occupational hazard factors in an accumulator factory, to analyze the status of internal and external lead exposure and evaluate the impact of lead exposure on the health of workers in the accumulator industry, and to provide a theoretical basis for improved lead exposure criteria and technical support for the control of lead contamination in the accumulator industry.

METHODSAn on-site investigation was carried out to monitor and evaluate the lead fume and dust in the workplaces of an accumulator factory, and occupational health examination was performed in all workers.

RESULTSThe occupational hazard safeguards in the accumulator factory were unadvanced. The contamination of lead fume and dust was serious. The abnormal rate of blood lead was up to 79.80%, and many workers developed anemia and mild peripheral nerve disease.

CONCLUSIONLead contamination is serious in the accumulator factory, leading to poor health of workers. It is essential to take effective control measures, improve the working environment, provide occupational health education, increase workers' self-protection awareness, and periodically conduct occupational hazard monitoring and health surveillance. The government must reinforce occupational health supervision of such enterprises.

Female ; Humans ; Industry ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; prevention & control ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Occupational Health ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between occupational noise exposure and hearing loss among workers in large automobile manufacturing enterprise during 2006-2010 in Guangzhou, China.

METHODSA retrospective cohort study was conducted. The subjects were divided into noise exposure group and control group. Their hearing examination results and noise exposure levels in different workplaces were collected during 2006-2010, and the relationship between noise exposure in workplaces and hearing loss was analyzed.

RESULTSThe incidence of hearing loss for the noise exposure group was 9.34%, versus 2.75% for the control group; the noise exposure group had a significantly higher risk of hearing loss than the control group (R = 3.378, 95%CI = 1.467∼ 9.083). The noise intensity and over-limit rate were significantly higher in the stamping, welding, and general assembly workshops than in other workshops. The risk of hearing loss significantly increased with years of noise exposure in 80, 85, and 90 dB (A) groups (χ(2) = 6.377, P = 0.041; χ(2) = 8.570, P = 0.014; χ(2) = 7.037, P = 0.030). The risk of hearing loss also increased with noise intensity in all working age groups (χ(2) = 5.068, P = 0.024; χ(2) = 71.497, P < 0.01; χ(2) = 24.226, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONNoise exposure increases the risk of noise-induced hearing loss in workers. The incidence of hearing loss increases with the noise intensity in workplaces and years of noise exposure. The noise exposure level and incidence of hearing loss are higher in the stamping workshop than in other workshops. Controlling the noise intensity in automobile manufacturing enterprise may reduce the risk of hearing loss in workers.

Adult ; Automobiles ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Noise, Occupational ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupations ; Retrospective Studies ; Workplace ; Young Adult

Blood Pressure ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Noise