Analysis of occupational health examination results of workers at 77 gas stations in Beijing

Objective To understand the occupational health status of gas station workers and provide a basis for formulating relevant occupational health protection measures.

Methods A total of 709 frontline workers responsible for refueling and unloading oil at 77 gas stations in Beijing were studied as the exposure group, and 512 staff members from three public institutions were used as the control group. The monitoring results of occupational hazards of gas stations in 2021 were collected, as well as general information on the workers in the two groups and the results of their physical examinations during the period of employment, which were collected and statistically analyzed.

Results The concentrations of benzene, toluene, xylene, gasoline, and n-hexane on work sites of the gas stations were all lower than the national occupational exposure limits. The gas workers included 383 males （54.02%） and 326 females （45.98%）, aged 18 to 59 years, with an average of （38.38 ±7.58） years; the median （M） and 25th, 75th percentiles （P₂₅, P₇₅） of the work time in gas stations were 4.0 （3.0, 11.0）. Among the indicators of occupational health examination, the gas workers had the highest abnormal rates in liver and spleen ultrasound examination （39.92%）, mainly fatty liver （33.85%, 240/709）, followed by urine routine tests （36.11%）. The abnormal rates in liver and spleen ultrasound examination, routine urine tests, electrocardiogram, and fasting blood glucose of gas workers were higher than those of the people in public institutions, with statistically significant differences （all P < 0.05）. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the abnormal risk of liver and spleen ultrasound examination increased （OR = 1.63, 95%CI: 1.17 to 2.27） and the abnormal risk of fasting blood glucose also increased （OR = 1.84, 95%CI: 1.08 to 3.14） for gas station workers with exposure duration longer than 4 years, compared with workers with exposure duration less than 4 years. Compared with males, female gas station workers had an increased abnormal risk of in urine routine tests （OR = 2.87, 95%CI: 2.05 to 4.01）, and electrocardiograms （OR = 1.55, 95%CI: 1.10 to 2.20）, but a decreased abnormal risk of fasting blood glucose （OR = 0.45, 95%CI: 0.27 to 0.76）; all of the above differences were statistically significant （all P < 0.05）.

Conclusions The abnormal rates of various health indicators among gas station workers were relatively high. With the increase in working time, the abnormalities in liver ultrasound examination and fasting blood glucose also increased. Occupational health management and supervision at gas stations should be strengthened to effectively ensure workers' health.