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Background The complex and diverse occupational disease hazards in automobile manufacturing industry pose high occupational health risks to workers. Objective To explore the methods that can accurately reflect the workplace health risk grade of automobile manufacturing enterprises, and to guide enterprises to practice risk classification management. Methods Comprehensive index method, International Commission on Mining and Metals occupational health risk assessment method (ICMM method), and risk index method were used toassess health risks of occupational disease hazards in major workstations such as welding, polishing, and painting in three automobile manufacturing enterprises in Hunan Province. Kappa consistency test was used to test the grading results of the three assessment methods. The re-examine results and detection rate of contraindications of occupational health examinations in the past three years were used to verify the assessment results. Results The results of comprehensive index method showed that the hazards of each selected workstation in enterprises A and B were evaluated as grade 2-3, among which NO2 in enterprise A was grade 3, and welding fume, NO2, and formaldehyde in enterprise B were all grade 3. The hazards of each selected workstation in enterprise C were grade 3-4, among which NO2 and benzene in were grade 4, and welding fume, manganese and its compounds, grinding wheel dust, and xylene were grade 3. The hazards evaluated by ICMM quantitative method were grade 2 and grade 5, among which manganese and its compounds in enterprise A and welding fume, grinding wheel dust, and benzene series in enterprise C were graded as grade 5. The hazards evaluated by risk index method were grade 1-4, among which manganese and its compounds in enterprises A and B were grade 3, and manganese and its compounds and benzene in enterprise C were grade 4. The Kappa value between comprehensive index method and ICMM method was 0.084 (P>0.05), that between comprehensive index method and risk index method was −0.046 (P>0.05), and that between ICMM method and risk index method was 0.014 (P>0.05), indicating poor consistency. By comparing the results of occupational health surveillance with the results of occupational health risk assessment, one worker was found to have occupational contraindication of manganese exposure and 1 worker was found to have excessive manganese in hair in enterprise A. However, the comprehensive index method graded low risk for manganese and its compounds in enterprise A and the result is conservative. The key workstations identified by ICMM method were consistent with the occupational health examination results, but the assessment grades were all extremely high risk, and the results were too strict. One worker was found to be contraindicated to welding fumes, and 2 polishers were found to have severe mixed pulmonary ventilation dysfunction in enterprise C. Mild and moderate pulmonary ventilation dysfunction was found to be common in welding and polishing workstations in each enterprise. The assessment results of welding fumes and grinding wheel dust by the risk index method were negligible risks, which were inconsistent with the occupational health examination results. Conclusion The comprehensive index method, ICMM method, and risk index method can basically identify workstations with serious occupational hazards, but they have certain limitations and applicability. In general, the evaluation results of the comprehensive index method were generates more consistent with the results with occupational health surveillance than the other two methods, is more comprehensive and objective in consideration, and is more suitable for health risk assessment of automobile manufacturing enterprises.
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Objective: To investigate the influencing factors and population attributable risk percent (PAR%) of low back pain in automobile assemblers. Methods: A total of 634 assemblers from 11 automobile manufacturers in Shiyan City, Hubei Province were chosen as research subjects using judgment sampling method. The prevalence of low back pain in the past one year was investigated using Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire. PAR% was used to analyze the contribution of influencing factors to low back pain. Results: The annual prevalence of low back pain was 68.8%. The results of multivariate logistics regression showed that length of service>15 years, high school or secondary college education or above, standing most of the time, sitting most of the time, the proportion of cumulative time of poor posture in work shift time ≥1/8, and bending for insufficient height of working space were the risk factors for low back pain (all P<0.05). The PAR% of the proportion of cumulative time of poor posture in work shift time ≥1/8 was 43.0%, 37.8% for standing most of the time, and 12.8% for bending for insufficient height of working space. Conclusion: The annual prevalence of low back pain was higher in automobile assemblers. The influencing factors included individual factors and occupational factors. The proportion of cumulative time of poor posture in work shift time ≥1/8, standing most of the time and bending for insufficient height of working space should be taken as the priority intervention factors to reduce the prevalence of low back pain among assemblers in this enterprise.
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Background China's automobile manufacture is a labor-intensive industry, and most of the welding tasks are manual operations. It is often necessary to observe the solder joints during operation, and there are many adverse health outcome-related factors involved in the work process. However, the research on the prevalence and risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in the upper back of welders is still insufficient. Objective To explore the prevalence and risk factors of WMSDs in the upper back of welders from an automobile factory. Methods This was a cross-sectional study. A cluster random sampling method was used to select 972 electric welders from an automobile factory as the study subjects. The Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire was used to estimate the prevalence of WMSDs in the upper back in the past year. Results The prevalence rate of WMSDs in the upper back in the welders was 42.2% (410/972). The positive rates of studied occupational risk factors were 72.5% (705/972) for maintaining same posture for a long time, 71.8% (698/972) for bending and twisting for a long time, and 64.7% (629/972) for repetitive trunk movements. The univariate analysis showed that the prevalence rates of WMSDs were significantly different among workers categorized by gender, working age, twisting and/or bending for a long time, working in the same position for a long time, lifting heavy objects in an uncomfortable position, repetitive trunk movements, being unable to exert energy due to discomfort, work involving cold or temperature changes, personnel shortage, no rest between work, working hours per week, and working in an uncomfortable position (P<0.05). The results of multiple logistic regression indicated that female, working in the same position for a long time, working in an uncomfortable position (frequently), lifting heavy objects in an uncomfortable position, and being unable to exert energy due to discomfort were associated with higher risks of reporting WMSDs in the upper back (OR=2.37, 1.46, 1.76, 1.44, and 1.50, respectively, P<0.05); the risk of reporting WMSDs in the upper back increased by 95%, 157%, and 196% for every 10 h increase in weekly working hours (41-50 h, 51-60 h, ≥61 h vs ≤40 h); adequate rest time was associated with a lower risk for WMSDs in the upper back (OR=0.70, 95%CI: 0.49-0.98). Conclusion The prevalence rate of WMSDs in the upper back of welders in the automobile factory is high, and many occupational risk factors are involved. Measures should be taken for intervention and prevention.
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Background Welders in automobile manufacturers are prone to hand/wrist musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), which seriously affect workers' physical and mental health. Objective To investigate the factors influencing hand/wrist MSDs of welders in an automobile factory and the population attributable risk percentage (PARP). Methods Five branches of an automobile factory were selected by convenient sampling method, and all qualified welders in the selected branches were enrolled as research participants. The Chinese Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire was used to collect information such as general characteristics of welders, presentation of MSDs in the wrists and hands, and selected ergonomic factors. Log-binomial model in the SAS program was used to calculate the prevalence ratio (PR) of each influencing factor and PARP. Results The prevalence rate of MSDs in the hands/wrists of welders in the automobile factory was 44.1% (345/782). The results of multiple analysis showed that female (PR=1.25, 95%CI: 1.10-1.44), being very tired after work (versus not tired, PR=2.22, 95%CI: 1.16-4.25), twisting wrists (PR=1.44, 95%CI: 1.19-1.74), insufficient operating space (PR=1.22, 95%CI: 1.07-1.40), and holding or pinching objects by hands (PR=1.58, 95%CI: 1.18-2.12) increased the risk of reporting hand/wrist MSDs symptoms. The PARP of major occupational risk factors was: holding or pinching objects by hands, 32.46%; twisting wrists, 21.50%; being very tired after work, 15.28%; and insufficient operating space, 8.18%. Conclusion The prevalence of MSDs symptoms in hands/wrists of welders in this automobile factory is high. Gender, holding or pinching objects by hands, twisting wrists, being very tired after work, and insufficient operating space are the factors affecting hand/wrist MSDs, among which holding or pinching objects by hands and twisting wrists are the priority intervention factors.
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Objective To investigate the awareness of occupational health knowledge and concept of front-line workers in the automobile manufacturing industry. Methods A total of 1 188 front-line workers from 47 automobile manufacturing enterprises in Guangdong Province were selected as the research subjects using the judgment sampling method. The awareness of occupational health knowledge and concept of the workers was investigated using the Personal Questionnaire for National Survey of Occupational Health Literacy for Key Populations. Results The median (25th and 75th percentiles) awareness of occupational health knowledge and concept among the research subjects was 56.00% (44.00%, 64.00%). The awareness was higher among male workers than female workers (P<0.05). The awareness was higher among married workers than workers with other marital status (P<0.05). The awareness of workers with an education level of middle school or below was lower than those in the senior high school and junior college group and bachelor's degree or above group (all P<0.05). The awareness of workers in the group with personal monthly income <5 000 was lower than that in the other two income groups with personal monthly income ≥5 000 (all P<0.05). The awareness of workers in medium and large enterprises was higher than that of workers in small and micro enterprises (all P<0.05). The awareness of workers in foreign-funded enterprises was higher than that in private enterprises and other enterprises (all P<0.05). The awareness of workers with job tenure >5-10 and >10 years was higher than that in workers with job tenure of 1-≤5 years (P<0.05). The awareness for the 25 items of occupational health knowledge and concept among the research subjects ranged from 6.14% to 96.72%, with an average awareness of 54.46% for the 25 items. Conclusion The awareness of occupational health knowledge and concept of front-line workers in automobile manufacturing industry is not high in general, and it is influenced by gender, marriage status, education level, personal monthly income, enterprise nature and scale, and job tenure.
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Objective To analyze the current status and influencing factors of occupational health literacy(OHL) among workers in automobile manufacturing industry in Beijing City. Methods A total of 1 639 frontline workers from 15 automobile manufacturing enterprises in Beijing City were selected using stratified cluster sampling method. The National Occupational Health Literacy Monitoring for Key Groups Questionnaire was used to investigate the OHL of the workers. Results The overall awareness of OHL was 60.5% in these 1 639 automobile manufacturing workers. The awareness of OHL in the four dimensions, from high to low, were basic knowledge of occupational health protection, info of healthy working style and behaviors, legal knowledge of occupational health and basic skills of occupational health protection (82.1% vs 73.2% vs 57.5% vs 43.3%, P<0.01). The multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that gender, marriage status, education level, personal monthly income and enterprise scale were influencing factors of OHL of automobile manufacturing workers (all P<0.05). Conclusion The OHL awareness among workers of automobile manufacturing industry in Beijing City, especially the basic skills of occupational health protection and the legal knowledge of occupational health, needs to be improved. It is essential to focus on promotion and intervention of occupational health in female workers, those with low education levels, low-income levels, and workers in small- and medium-sized enterprises.
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Background Noise is the most common occupational hazard in the automobile manufacturing industry with the most workers exposed. Automobile manufacturing industry is a high-risk industry for noise-induced hearing loss. Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of noise-induced hearing loss among workers in automobile manufacturing industry and explore related influencing factors. Methods A questionnaire survey, individual noise recording, and pure tone audiometry were conducted among workers (n=656) exposed to noise from five automobile manufacturing enterprises. The data on age, sex, exposure duration, noise intensity, kurtosis, and hearing loss were obtained. The positive rates of high-frequency noise-induced hearing loss (HFNIHL) and speech-frequency noise-induced hearing loss (SFNIHL) were calculated, and each factor was compared between workers with and without HFNIHL. Chi-square test and analysis of trend were conducted among different groups of age, sex, exposure duration, A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level normalized to a nominal 8-hour working day (LAeq,8h), and kurtosis. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the factors influencing the positive rates of HFNIHL and SFNIHL. Results The exposure rates of non-Gaussian noise was 73.6%. The positive rates of HFNIHL and SFNIHL were 32.6% (214 workers) and 6.7% (44 workers), respectively. The HFNIHL workers showed older age, higher proportion of male, longer exposure duration, higher noise intensity (LAeq,8 h), and increased kurtosis than those without HFNIHL (P<0.05). The positive rates of HFNIHL increased with the increase of age, exposure duration, LAeq,8 h, and kurtosis (\begin{document}$ {\chi
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Background The operation mode of automobile manufacturing industry (AMI) makes workers have different degrees of occupational stress and burnout, which may lead to negative emotions and depressive symptoms. Objective To study the relationship between occupational stress, job burnout, and depressive symptoms in AMI workers. Methods In this study, 1300 workers from a Guangzhou AMI company were selected as subjects by cluster random sampling method. Occupational stress, job burnout, and depressive symptoms of the workers were assessed by using the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory general survey questionnaire, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, respectively. Hierarchical regression was used to analyze the effects of occupational stress and job burnout on depressive symptoms in AMI workers. Mediating effect model was used to analyze the mediating effect of job burnout on the relationship between occupational stress and depressive symptoms. Results There were 1300 questionnaires distributed, 1228 valid questionnaires collected, with a 94.5% recovery rate. The ERI ratio of 1228 AMI workers was 1.06±0.72, and the positive rate of occupational stress was 37.3% (458/1228). The score of job burnout was 2.18±1.37, and the positive rate of job burnout was 62.6% (769/1228). The score of depressive symptoms was 10.27±6.42, and the positive rate of depressive symptoms was 47.1% (578/1228). The dimensional scores of effort and over-commitment in occupational stress as well as emotional exhaustion and depersonalization in job burnout of AMI workers were positively correlated with the depressive symptom scores (rs=0.415, 0.571, 0.573, 0.593, P＜0.05). The dimensional scores of reward and personal achievement were negatively correlated (rs=−0.454, −0.339, P＜0.05). The percentages of variance in depressive symptoms score explained by occupational stress and job burnout were 26.7% and 16.6%, respectively. Job burnout had a partial mediating effect between the three dimensions of occupational stress and depressive symptoms, and the mediating effect values were −0.2832 (95%CI: −0.3250– −0.2434), 0.3553 (95%CI: 0.3071–0.4041), and 0.4193 (95%CI: 0.3681–0.4725), respectively. Conclusion AMI workers' occupational stress affects job burnout, but also indirectly affects depressive symptoms. Job burnout partially mediates the association between occupational stress and depressive symptoms. Reducing occupational stress and burnout levels of AMI workers may alleviate depressive symptoms.
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OBJECTIVE: To analyze the reproductive health status of female employees in an automobile manufacturing industry and its influencing factors. METHODS: By a method of convenient sampling, 989 female employees of an automobile manufacturer were selected as the study subjects. The Female Employees′ Reproductive Health Status Questionnaire was used to investigate and analyze the influencing factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of abnormal menstruation was 23.7%(234/989). The abnormal menstruation was mainly the menstrual cycle disorder, with the prevalence of 15.4%(152/989). The prevalence of reproductive tract infection was 39.1%(387/989), and the top 2 types of infection were cervicitis(12.7%) and vaginitis(12.1%). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of abnormal menstruation in night shift workers was higher than that in day shift workers(P<0.05). The risk of abnormal menstruation increased in female workers with the increase of work intensity(P<0.05). Female workers with a history of abortion had higher risk of abnormal menstruation and reproductive tract infection than those without a history of abortion(all P<0.05). Female workers with abnormal menstruation had a higher risk of reproductive tract infection than those with normal menstruation(P<0.01). Married employees had a higher risk of reproductive tract infection than unmarried ones(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The reproductive health of female workers in the automobile manufacturing industry is related to their marital status, work shift, work intensity and history of abortion.
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Objective@#To analyze the relationships between the exposure of occupational noise and the occurrence of noise-induced high frequency hearing loss in automobile manufacturing industry.@*Methods@#From June to November 2017, 1579 male workers were selected for exposure to noise hazards in the automobile manufacturing industry in Guangzhou for more than one year (including one year) using the convenient sampling method. According to the hearing test results, 276 people in the high frequency hearing loss group and 1303 in the normal hearing group were surveyed, occupational health tests were conducted, and the noise intensity in the workplace was measured. The cumulative noise exposure (CNE) was calculated. The relationship between shift work and high frequency hearing loss of noise work is analyzed.@*Results@#Compared with the normal hearing group, the noise exposure intensity, age, length of service, marital status, working system, and physical exercise of the high frequency hearing loss group were statistically significant (P<0.05). Through logistic regression analysis, after correcting the effects of organic solvent contact, marital status, and physical exercise, CNE, age, and shift operations (double-shift operations, three-shift operations) are the risk factors for high frequency hearing loss to occur.@*Conclusion@#The risk of hearing loss of workers exposed to noise in the whole vehicle manufacturing industry may be related to CNE, age, and shift work. Two-shift and three-shift work are possible risk factors for noise-induced high frequency hearing loss.
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OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between the cumulative noise exposure( CNE) and prevalence of hypertension in automotive manufacturing workers. METHODS: A total of 1 535 noise-exposed male workers with length of service ≥ 1. 0 year from automobile manufacturing industries in Guangzhou City was chosen as study subjects by convenience sampling method. The noise intensity in the workplace was measured, the CNE calculated, and the occupational health examination conducted. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension of the study subjects was 8. 1%( 125/1 535). The prevalence of hypertension showed an upward trend with the increase of CNE( P < 0. 01). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the prevalence risk of hypertension increased with the increase of CNE after adjusting for confounding factors such as body mass index,smoking and wearing personal protective equipment in automobile manufacturing workers( P < 0. 01). CONCLUSION: There is a dose-effect relationship between prevalence of hypertension and CNE in automobile manufacturing workers who exposed to noise.
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OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current prevalence status of gynecological diseases on female workers in an automobile manufacturing company. METHODS: By judgment sampling,382 female workers who exposed to occupational hazard factors were selected as exposure group and 367 female executive staffs without exposure to those factors were selected as control group. Among the three subgroups of the exposure group,the prevalence rate of vaginitis,pelvic inflammatory disease,cervicitis,annex cysts,ovarian cysts and uterine fibroid in these two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of vaginitis and uterine fibroid in exposure group was higher than that of control group(24. 9% vs20. 7%,20. 4% vs 9. 8%,P < 0. 05). Among the three subgroups of the exposure group,the prevalence rate of vaginitis in welding subgroup was the highest(35. 4%,P < 0. 017); the prevalence rate of annex cysts in coating subgroup was the highest among all subgroups(11. 4%,P < 0. 017); the prevalence rate of uterine fibroid in assembly subgroup was the highest(28. 1%,P < 0. 017). The prevalence rate of uterine fibroid in exposure group presented an increasing tendency with the increase of age(P < 0. 05). The prevalence rate of cervicitis,annex cysts and uterine fibroid in exposure group presented an increasing tendency with the increase of seniority(P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate of gynecological diseases in female workers who exposed to occupational hazard factors in an automobile manufacturing company was significantly higher than general population. The prevalence rate of gynecological diseases among different types of female workers was significantly different. Disparity of gynecological diseases prevalence of female workers might due to differences in occupational hazard factors exposure.
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BACKGROUND: Many employees working in cast iron foundry process at an automobile production plant suffered from similar dermatoses due to occupational exposure. But data on the occupational dermatoses in foundry workers at an automobile production plant have not been reported in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dermatoses in relation to occupational exposure in cast iron foundry process at an automobile production plant. METHODS: 188 workers working in the foundry process were investigated for the presence of dermatoses using a questionnaire and a dermatological examination. The questionnaire included the past or present history of occupational exposure, dermatoses and atopy and so on. Patch test with Korean standard allergen and additional related allergen was performed in 38 workers who were suspected to have contact dermatitis in relation to occupational exposure. RESULTS: The results are summarized as follows; The most common 5 dermatoses were dermatophytoses(40), contact dermatitis(18), folliculitis (11), atopic dermatitis(9) and hand eczema(5). The determined risk factors to the skin were hot environmental condition, silica, organic solvent nickel and chrome. The incidence of irritant contact dermatitis was much higher than that of allergic contact dermatitis. The frequency of irritant contact dermatitis was much higher in atopics than in non-atopics. Contact sensitization was found in 6 workers and sensitizing substances were cobalt, nickel, colophony, quinoline mixture and balsam of Peru. CONCLUSION: Based on these clinical and epidemiological observations, it is suggested that the health and safety educational programs about the occupational dermatoses are needed for workers.