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Objective To explore the results, feasibility and existing problems of semi-quantitative and quantitative risk assessment models in the assessment of chemical hazard exposure in optical fiber manufacturing enterprises. Methods The chemical hazard factors of an optical fiber enterprise in Wuhan were investigated, detected and evaluated, and the semi-quantitative and quantitative risk assessment models of occupational health of chemical hazard factors in the workplace were used for risk assessment. Results In the semi-quantitative risk assessment model, the consistency between the contact index method and the comprehensive index method was good (Kappa=0.820, P2=0.539，P<0.05), and the results were grade 1, 2, 3 and 5. The non-carcinogenic risk hazard quotient of the quantitative risk assessment model was not consistent with the three semi-quantitative methods (Kappa=0), and the results were grade 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Conclusion The semi-quantitative risk assessment model is more suitable for the risk assessment of the optical fiber industry than the quantitative risk assessment model.
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Objective To study the applicability of two different occupational health risk assessment methods for noise positions in a beer manufacturing enterprise. Methods An occupational health investigation along with the detection of occupational hazard factors were carried out in the workplace of a beer manufacturing enterprise in Wuhan. Workers with 8-hour working day equivalent sound level (LEX,8 h) ≥ 80 dB (A) were selected as research subjects. The “Guidelines for Noise Occupational Disease Risk Management” method and occupational hazard risk index method were used to assess the risk of noise jobs in the beer manufacturing company. The assessment results of the two methods were compared. Results The noise exposure level of the enterprise was between 81.2 and 91.2dB(A). The guideline method predicted that the risk of high-frequency hearing loss and noise deafness for wine bottling workers and labelers on the bottling production line was high after 35 years exposure to noise. Washing，inspection and boxing on the bottling production line and bottling up on the canning production line were at medium risk, and others were at low risk. The evaluation results of the occupational hazard risk index method showed that the bottlers, bottling workers, wine inspectors, labelers and boxers on the bottling production line were at medium risk, and other positions were at low risk. Conclusion The occupational hazard risk index method is more comprehensive to consider all the factors of health risk, and the evaluation results are close to the “Guidelines for Noise Occupational Disease Risk Management” method. The guideline method can quantitatively predict the risk of high-frequency hearing loss and noise deafness, and the risk of hearing loss increases with the extension of years of noise exposure.
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OBJECTIVE: To compare the applicability of three semi-quantitative methods for risk assessment for occupational health in a mechanic processing enterprise. METHODS: The judgment sampling method was used to select a mechanic processing enterprise as the study subject. The occupational health risk was evaluated using contact ratio, exponential and comprehensive exponential analyzing method, and the results of different methods were compared. RESULTS: The occupational health risk level of all the posts in sandblasting, sawing, welding, grinding and painting in the mechanic processing enterprises were of moderate risk or above. The consistency of evaluation results of the contact ratio, exponential and comprehensive exponential methods was poor(weighted Kappa=0.30, P>0.05). The consistency of exponential and comprehensive exponential methods was excellent(weighted Kappa=1.00, P<0.01). When the contact concentration(E)/occupational exposure limits(OEL) is <0.50, the contact ratio method is less than or equal to the exponential method and the comprehensive exponential method. When 0.50 ≤E/OEL<2.00, the results of these three methods are consistent. When the E/OEL ≥2.00, the evaluation result of the contact ratio method is equal to or higher than the exponential method and the comprehensive exponential method.CONCLUSION: The contact ratio method is easy to obtain, simple and convenient. The exponential method is suitable for occupational disease risk factors in the workplace without OELs or unable to obtain test data, and it is more practical. The comprehensive exponential method is considered comprehensive and suitable for occupational health risk assessment in the workplace.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Dust sample mass gain is too smaller to satisfy the limit of detection (LOD) even in most cases during dust sampling at workplaces nowdays, especially for respirable fraction. Therefore, it is aimed to solve the problem by increasing sample load with high flow rate samplers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In A and B two shipyards respirable welding fume was sampled by high flow rate cyclone samplers of FSP-10 (10 L/min) for 2-2.5 hours and normal flow rate FSP-2 (2 L/min) for 3-4 hours with a stratigy of parallele sampling at the same workpalce, in order to compare their mass gain, coincidence rate with LOD, and airborn dust concentration.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sample mass gain of 0.97±0.40 mg and 1.61±0.86 mg respectively in the two factories by FSP-10 was significantly higher than that of 0.29±0.12 mg and 0.51±0.27 mg by FSP-2 (t-test, P<0.05 in both cases) , increasing herewith the coincidence rate with LOD from 26.8% (when sampling with FSP-2, calculated together with samples of the two factories) to 89.7%. However there was no significant difference in dust concentrations by the two different samplers, 0.53±1.88 vs 0.73±1.61 mg/m(3) by FSP-2 and FSP-10 in the shipyard A and 1.14±1.78 vs 1.01±1.63 mg/m(3) in the factory B (t-test, P>0.05 in every case) . In addtion, sample loading by FSP-2 was found to be correlated to sampling time (R(2)=0.7906, y=0.002 6x) , therefore, it has to sample for ≥192.3 min to meet the LOD (0.5 mg) in case of normal flow rate.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>By using of high flow rate cyclone FSP-10 the problem of LOD could be solved, along with increased sample mass and similar respirable dust concentration by the two samplers. Some techincal improvements of FSP-10 and increasing of LOD coincidence rate by other methods was also disscussed.</p>