ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare the applicability of three risk assessment methods on occupational health risk assessment of chemical harmful factors in lead-acid battery manufacturers. METHODS: The convenient sampling method was used to select six lead-acid battery enterprises as research subjects. The occupational health risks of jobs with lead smoke,lead dust and sulfuric acid were determined by contact ratio method,comprehensive index method( both are semiquantitative evaluation method) and qualitative risk assessment method. The assessment was carried out,and the obtained risk level was standardized as the risk ratio. The evaluation results of these three methods were compared. RESULTS: For occupational health risk levels of lead smoke,lead dust and sulfuric acid,the contact ratio assessment method were 2-4,and the comprehensive index method were 2-3. The risk ratios after standardization were consistent with the risk level of that before standardization. The result of the qualitative risk assessment method was 2-3,and the standardized risk ratio was 3-4. The risk ratio of each post after standardization increased by one level compared with the risk level before standardization. When( Exposure limit concentration,E)/( Occupational exposure limit,OEL) ≥ 2,the occupational health risk levels of lead smoke,lead dust of qualitative risk assessment method and the contact ratio method were completely consistent,both of which were high risk,which were higher than the medium risk result of the comprehensive index method. When E/OEL < 2,Kappa analysis results showed that the contact ratio method and the comprehensive index method were in good agreement( Kappa = 0. 84,P < 0. 01). The qualitative risk assessment method were inconsistent with the contact ratio method and the comprehensive index method( Kappa value were -0. 22 and -0. 24). CONCLUSION: For occupational health risk assessment of chemical harmful factors in lead-acid battery manufacturers,the comprehensive index method could be used to evaluate the comprehensive results of occupational disease hazard factors and OEL in workplace. A qualitative risk assessment method can be used for assessment without test method or OEL of occupational hazard factor.