人造石材業職業衛生評估調查

Assessment of Occupational Health for Solid Surfacing Material Manufacture

本研究旨在探討現今人造石材業勞工之職業暴露及健康危害。研究團隊選取3家業者為對象，其中一家規模較大，製程完整，包含碎石、加入環氧樹脂與有機溶劑混合、壓模成型；另兩家為小型廠商，製程以後段混合原料、壓模成型為主。本研究實施作業環境測定（粉塵、石綿、有機溶劑及噪音）於工作場所，以評估危害暴露，同時進行勞工健康問卷調查，以了解其健康情況與暴露關係。作業環境測定結果顯示，大廠商之碎石區總粉塵濃度過高，其中一樣本之結果超出容許濃度標準（10mg/m3）一倍以上；另兩家之粉煉區有機溶劑濃度（苯乙烯、丙酮）偏高，其一樣本之丙酮濃度超出容許濃度標準（750ppm）三倍有餘。噪音為普遍現象，部分量測值超過85dBA；經頻譜分析顯示，噪音頻率高峰處涵蓋2-4 kHz，最容易造成聽力損害。健康問卷的部分，一共收集45份，經整理後發現大部分員工不認為自身之危害暴露嚴重，但經統計分析發現，年資5年以上的勞工，易感覺後背、手肘及聽力健康受到影響（p <0.05）。總結以上，建議雇主應加強通風換氣之改善，並督導其勞工穿戴適合之防護用具，以避免職業暴露危害，保障勞工之健康。

This study was to assess the occupational exposure and to identify the health hazards for the solid surfacing material workers. We selected three industries as subjects, of which one was the largest with the complete processes, including stone crushing, mixing with epoxy resin/organic solvents, and shaping, and the other two primarily focused on the latter processes. Our team monitored the working environments for particulate matter, asbestos, noise, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (e.g., styrene, acetone), and conducted a survey to understand workers’ health status as well as the association with exposure. The environmental measurements indicate that the largest company had the problem of high levels of particulate matter, and one sample showed a level twice higher than the total dust standard (10mg/m3). The other two had high concentrations of VOCs, one of which reached as three times high as the standard for acetone (750ppm). Noise is a general problem, and some of the measurements were above 85 dBA. The spectrum analysis indicates that the peak values of noise occurred around 4 kHz, which had the most impact on the hearing ability. We collected 45 questionnaires and found that most of the employees did not think of severity of exposure to occupational hazards. The statistical analysis, however, shows that employees with experience of 5 years or above were associated with back and elbow pains and hearing impairment (p < 0.05). In summary, the owners of the manufacture should improve the ventilation system, and guide their laborers to wear proper protection gears to prevent from occupational hazards.