Application of two occupational risk assessment methods in noise assessment of a beer manufacturing enterprise / 公共卫生与预防医学

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.

Risk pre-assessment of occupational hazards in a waste ecological landfill project / 预防医学

Objective@#To pre-assess the occupational hazards in a waste ecological landfill project using comprehensive exposure index with analogy method,and to provide reference for improvement of protective measures and prevention of occupational diseases. @*Methods@#Some enterprises which were comparable with the project in landfill storage capacity,disposal scale,techniques,occupational hazards and occupational health management were selected to carry out on-site occupational health survey,and were evaluated by occupational exposure limits（OEL）. The risk of occupational hazards of the project was assessed by analogy and comprehensive index method.@*Results@#The occupational hazards of analogous enterprises were hydrogen sulfide,ammonia,other dust and noise in ash solidification workshop,paving post in landfill area,spraying post and inspection post in sewage disposal area;manganese and its inorganic compounds,welding fume and arc light in welding post. Except for the noise intensity of spraying post exceeding the national OEL,the other items were qualified. The results of the pre-assessment of the project showed that in the posts with vacant OEL,the hazards of paving compaction post exposed to high temperature in summer,spraying post exposed to high temperature in summer,cypermethrin and machine repairing post exposed to heat,ozone and noise were at moderate risk;in the posts qualified by OEL,the hazards of paving compaction and sewage disposal posts exposed to noise were neglectable,paving compaction and transportation post exposed to other dust were at low risk,others were at moderate risk;unqualified spraying post exposed to noise was at moderate risk. @*Conclusion@#Medium-risk occupational hazards exist in paving compaction,spraying,sewage disposal and machine repairing posts. Comprehensive index method combined with analogy method can comprehensively achieve the occupational hazard pre-assessment of a proposed project.

Worker Safety in the Rare Earth Elements Recycling Process From the Review of Toxicity and Issues

Although the rare earth elements (REEs) recycling industry is expected to increase worldwide in high-tech industry, regulations for worker safety have yet to be established. This study was conducted to understand the potential hazard/risk of REE recycling and to support the establishment of regulations or standards. We review the extensive literature on the toxicology, occupational safety, and health issues, and epidemiological surveys related to the REEs, and propose suitable management measures. REE recycling has four key steps such as collection, dismantling, separation, and processing. In these processes, hazardous substances, such as REEs-containing dust, metals, and chemicals, were used or occurred, including the risk of ignition and explosion, and the workers can be easily exposed to them. In addition, skin irritation and toxicities for respiratory, nervous, and cardiovascular systems with the liver toxicity were reported; however, more supplementary data are needed, owing to incompleteness. Therefore, monitoring systems concerning health, environmental impacts, and safety need to be established, based on additional research studies. It is also necessary to develop innovative and environment-friendly recycling technologies, analytical methods, and biomarkers with government support. Through these efforts, the occupational safety and health status will be improved, along with the establishment of advanced REE recycling industry.