Shanghai Chemical Industry Park Occupational Hazards Investigation And Supervision Policy

ObjectiveThe occupational hazards existing in the enterprises located in the Shanghai Chemical Industrial Park were studied and the grading of occupational hazards were evaluated to explore the reasonable supervision scheme of governmental agency on occupational health work of these enterprises.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted in these 30 enterprises located in the Chemical Industrial Park. The questionnaire was used to collect all information on occupational health work of these enterprises, including the technical process, the occupational hazards, the records of monitoring and health surveillance data, the occupational health management system and others.The airborne concentration of selected occupational chemical hazards in the workplace were measured according to specifications of air sampling for hazardous substances monitoring in the workplace and evaluated based on the Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace. The quantitative scoring and grading evaluation were made according to the regulation of Shanghai Occupational Health Classification and quantified grading management.ResultsThere are existed different occupational hazards in these 30 enterprises located in the chemical industrial park. Generally speaking, the occupational health work in these enterprises was done very well. The exposed workers received occupational physical examination annually; however the abnormality of some health indicators, which were not directly related to the workplace exposure, was as high as 20%. It indicated the health promotion activity in these enterprises should be important to improve these worker's health condition.The records of monitoring showed that all worksites were compliant with requirements of occupational exposure limits, but our supervision work found that one worksite was not compliant with the exposure limit of dichloroethane among 867 checked worksites.According to the Shanghai Regulation on Occupational Health Classification and Quantified Grading Management, occupational hazards in these 30 enterprises were evaluated.22 enterprises were graded as enterprises with severe occupational hazards, among these 15 enterprises as grade A,3 as grade B and 4 were grade C.8 enterprises were graded as common enterprises with common occupational health hazards, among these 3 as grade A and 5 as grade C.ConclusionThough the occupational health work in these enterprises was well done and the workers received well protection, the concern on the potential accident events was still high. It is suggested that it is essential to establish a reasonable supervision scheme to ensure the enterprises can always keep the occupational health condition well and all workers are well protected all time. In any case, the enterprises should be instructed to improve their occupational health management system to ensure the workers health. The health inspection institute of health bureau, the leader of the chemical industrial park and the enterprises should work together based on their role to protect the workers and promote enterprise sustainable development. Based on our capacity and the current occupational health work of these enterprises in the park, we suggested that the frequency of supervision and administration should be 1 to 3 times each year for the enterprises with severe occupational hazards and from 0.5 to 2 times each year for enterprises with common occupational hazards.