Comparison of occupational health risk rating for benzene and its analogues in an aircraft maintenance enterprise using three risk assessment methods / 中国职业医学

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the applicability of 3 risk assessment methods to evaluate the occupational health risk of benzene and its analogues in the workplace of an aircraft maintenance enterprise. METHODS: The workshops of compound material,structural and electromechanical involved in exposure of benzene and its analogues in an aircraft maintenance enterprise were chosen as study subjects. The optimal indicator system of risk assessment on occupational chemical hazards( hereinafter referred to as“optimal indicator system”),the Singapore semi-quantitative risk assessment model and risk index method were used to classify the benzene hazards of 5 operating posts in 3 workshops. The risk stratification results of the 3 assessment methods were compared. RESULTS: The results of optimal indicator system for benzene risk rating was mild risk in all workplaces. The risk classifications for toluene and xylene were light risk. The risk classifications of Singapore semi-quantitative risk assessment model for benzene,toluene and xylene were all low risk in all workplaces. The risk classifications of risk index method for benzene were all moderate risk in all workplaces. The risk classifications for toluene were harmless in all workplaces. The risk classifications for xylene were mild risk in all workplaces. CONCLUSION: There are differences among the evaluation results of the 3 risk assessment methods. The optimal indicator system could be more suitable for occupational health assessment of benzene and its analogues in aircraft maintenance industries.