Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea (대한인간공학회지)

Ergonomics Society of Korea (대한인간공학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Lead Exposure Indices, Workloads, and Environmental Factors in Battery Manufacturing Workplace

  • Cho, Kwang Sung (Department of Industrial & Management Engineering, Hansung University) ;
  • Jeong, Byung Yong (Department of Industrial & Management Engineering, Hansung University)
  • Received : 2013.04.01
  • Accepted : 2013.05.09
  • Published : 2013.06.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the workloads of industrial and automobile storage battery industries and their association to biological exposure indices. Background: Occupational lead exposure at battery manufacturing workplace is the most serious problem in safety and health management. Method: We surveyed 145 workers in 3 storage battery industries. Environmental factors(lead in air, temperature, humidity and vibration)), biological exposure indices(lead in blood and zinc protoporphyrin in blood) and individual workload factors(process type, work time, task type, weight handling and restrictive clothing) were measured in each unit workplace. Results/Conclusion: Air lead concentration is statistically significant in associations with workload factors(process type, work time, task type, and restrictive clothing) and environmental factors (humidity and vibration), whereas zinc protoporphyrin in blood are significantly associated with work time and weight handling. And lead in blood is significantly associated with work time, weight handling and temperature. Application: The results of this study are expected to be a fundamental data to job design.

Keywords

References

  1. Blumberg, W. E., et al. Zinc protoporphyrin level in blood determination by a portable hematofluorometer: A screening device for lead poisoning, J Lab Clin Med, 89, 712-723, 1977.
  2. Cho, K.S., et al. Evaluation of working conditions on excess of threshold limit value of air lead levels in lead-acid battery plants, Soonchunhyang J. of Ind. Med, 5(2), 27-37, 1999.
  3. Fernandez, F.J., Micro method for lead determination in whole blood by atomic absorption with use of graphite furnace, Clin Chem, 21, 555-561, 1975.
  4. International Labour Office., Introduction to work study, 3d ed, Geneva, Switzerland, ILO, 1979.
  5. International Lead and Zinc Study Group., Principal uses of lead and zinc, Lisbon, Portugal, ILZSG, 2005.
  6. Jeon, M.J., et al. A cohort study on blood zinc protoporphyrin concentration of workers in storage battery factory, Journal of Preventive Medicine & Public Health, 31(1), 112-126, 1998.
  7. Kim, N.S., et al. The association of lead biomarkers of lead workers with airborne lead concentration in lead industries, J Korean Soc Occup Environ Hyg, 17(1), 43-52, 2007.
  8. Korean Statistical., Mining and Manufacturing Industry/Energy, http://kosis.kr/abroad/abroad_01List.j (retrieved March 29, 2013).
  9. Lee, B.K., et al. Assessment of lead and lead exposure indices in lead industry according to occupational category, Soonchunhyang J. of Ind. Med, 5(1), 1-13, 1999.
  10. Lee, B.K., et al. The change of face leakage of maintenance free respirator by different wearing method and their association with lead biomarkers, Soonchunhyang J. of Ind. Med, 10(1), 53-60, 2004.
  11. Lee, B.K., Occupational health management in lead industry: the Korean experience, Safety and Health at Work, 2(2), 87-96, 2011 https://doi.org/10.5491/SHAW.2011.2.2.87
  12. Ministry of Employment and Labor., Occupation Safety and Health Acts, 2012.
  13. Ministry of Employment and Labor., Yearbook of Employment and Labor Statistics: Number of occupational disease suspect by kind of disease, 2012.
  14. Ministry of Health & Welfare., Ministry of Health and Welfare Statistical Year Book, 2012.
  15. Park, D.W., et al. Model between lead ZPP concentration of workers exposed to lead, J Korean Soc Occup Environ Hyg, 6(1), 88-96, 1996.
  16. Shim, Y.B. and Lee, B.K., The effect of respiratory protection with biological monitoring on the health promotion of lead workers, The Kor. J. of Occup. Med, 4(1), 1-13, 1992.
  17. Zenz, C., Occupational medicine, Year Book Medical Publishers Inc., Chicago, 506-509, 1994.

Cited by

  1. Suggestion of Risk Assessment Models for Cardiovascular Disease in the Workplace vol.33, pp.4, 2014, https://doi.org/10.5143/JESK.2014.33.4.289