Comparison of two methods of evaluating occupational health risk in a shoemaking enterprise / 中国职业医学

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the applicability of Singapore Ministry of Manpower( MOM) risk model and MES model in risk assessment of occupational health hazard caused by chemical poisons in shoemaking enterprises. METHODS: A medium-sized shoemaking enterprise in Guangzhou City was selected as the research object to carry out on-the-spot investigation of occupational health,measure the level of chemical hazards in the air of the workplace. Occupational health risk assessment of chemical toxins in the workplace was conducted using the MOM model and the MES model,and the results of the two evaluations were compared. RESULTS: The occupational chemical hazards in workplace of the shoemaking enterprise mainly included the toluene,xylene,ethyl acetate,butyl acetate,n-hexane,and 1,2-dichloroethan( 1,2-DCE). The concentration-time weighted average( CTWA) of 1,2-DCE at the stitching post,methylbenzene at the brush coating post and ethyl acetate at the cleaning post exceeded occupational exposure limits. The MOM model assessment results showed that methylbenzene was of high risk and 1,2-DCE was of medium risk in brush coating post. n-Hexane and1,2-DCE were of medium risk in stitching post. Ethyl acetate and 1,2-DCE was of medium risk in cleaning post. The results of the MES model evaluation showed that the risk level of n-hexane and 1,2-DCE used in sticking,brush coating and cleaning posts was extremely high and the remaining chemicals were highly dangerous. CONCLUSION: Both MOM model and MES model can easily predict and assess the occupational health risk of various posts in shoemaking enterprises to some extent. The assessment result of MES model is more practical than that of MOM model.