Assessment of health risk of occupational hazards in a printing-ink plant with semi-quantitative method

Objective To assess the health risk of occupational hazards in a printing-ink plant in Shenzhen. Methods The occupational hazards at worksites of mixing, grinding and quality checking in a printing-ink plant were surveyed and the health risk was assessed by semi-quantitative method from Singapore. Results The concentrations of silica and methyl acrylate at mixing worksite were higher than OELs values,and the risk rating was assessed as high and medium respectively;while the risk ratings of other occupational hazards were ranked as low since the concentrations of these hazards at mixing worksite were lower than OELs values. The risk ratings of occupational hazards at grinding and quality checking worksite were assessed as low or negligible since the concentrations of occupational hazards were lower. Conclusion The health risk at mixing worksite was high,and more control measures should be taken.