Occupational hazards in classical factories and enterprises of Guangzhou City from 2014 to 2016: results of sentinel surveillance

Objective The occupational hazard condition of classical factories and enterprises, in which the sentinel surveillance was carried out, was evaluated, in order to understand the fact of occupational health work in Guangzhou.

Methods A total of 36 factories and enterprises were chosen as surveillance sentinel, where the measurement of occupational hazards and survey of occupational health manage were consecutively carried out, and the surveillance data was analyzed.

Results Among these 36 factories the occupational hazards at 487 operating-posts or 1 588 detection points were continuously measured from 2014 to 2016. It was noted that 180 samples had a higher level than national standard, accounting for 11.34%(180/1588). The noncompliance of enterprises, operating-posts and/or detection points varied among different industries(P < 0.01), and chemical industry had the lowest, while shipbuilding and wooden furniture manufacture industries had higher noncompliance. The noncompliance of enterprises, operating-posts and/or detection points varied among different occupational hazards(P < 0.01), and noise was the most serious occupational hazard.

Conclusion The noise hazard of classical factories and enterprises in Guangzhou is serious. We should pay more attention to the occupational health work in the shipbuilding industry and the small and micro enterprises. Sentinel surveillance on occupational hazards are important measures to push the work on occupation health.