ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of occupational health risk of 2-butoxyethanol(2-BE) by two risk assessment methods. METHODS: Occupational health investigation and detecting 2-BE level in workplace were carried out in a bicycle manufacturing factory in Tianjin City, a printing factory in Shenzhen City and an automobile manufacturing factory in Beijing City. The occupational health risk of 2-BE was assessed by Singapore's semi-quantitative risk assessment model and occupational hazards risk assessment index method. The risk classification results of the 2 risk assessment methods were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The results of Singapore's semi-quantitative risk assessment method showed that all the 2-BE risk ratios of the decals workshop in the bicycle manufacturing factory, the binding and printing workshops of the printing factory, the spray finishing and the intermediate painting and the electrophoresis workshops of the automobile manufacturing factory were 0.4. The classification of 2-BE risk ratios belongs to low risk level. The results of occupational hazards risk assessment index method showed that the risk ratios of decals workshop in the bicycle manufacturing factory, the binding and printing of the printing factory, the spray finishing and the intermediate painting and the electrophoresis of the automobile manufacturing factory were 0.4, 0.4 and 0.2, respectively, which correspondence to low, low and negligible risk classification, respectively. The two methods were consistent with the appraisal positions of decals post in the bicycle manufacturing factory and the evaluation of binding and printing positions of a printing factory, although the risk assessment results of key positions in the paint shop of an automobile manufacturing industry were inconsistent. CONCLUSION: The occupational hazard risk assessment index method takes into account of the health effects, exposure conditions and operating conditions, and can comprehensively and accurately assess the occupational health risks caused by 2-BE.
