Discussion
After occupational health education was conducted with
the collaboration between workers and managers, many
workers (80.6–100.0%) noticed and were aware of toxicity
of lead and the necessity for protection against it. They
changed the attitude toward their work and improved personal
hygiene. The average blood lead level of the workers reduced.
Thus, occupational health education and collaboration were
effective to reduce the risk of lead poisoning of workers.
As to knowledge on risk of contact with lead, all workers
at the assembly section and the managers in the factory had
never gotten the education about the toxicity of lead and
the prevention against it. Many workers consequently had lacked knowledge and/or understanding about them. The
behaviors and personal hygiene were not adequate before
occupational health education. After occupational health
education, many workers were noticed and understood the
toxicity of lead and then changed the attitude toward their
work and improved personal hygiene, for example washing
their hands by a detergent before drinking water or having
lunch. Same results were shown in the results of Hwang
YH et al.6). In this research improved behaviors were
observed further in some respects. They wore long sleeved
shirt and trousers, quitted smoking in the workplace, and
took a bath after the work. Furthermore, they took off
working clothes at an office outside the workplace and
washed them everyday. This behavior is pointed out as one
of important ones in lead safety information7).
The working environment at the assembly section was
unsuitable for workers. Fourteen workers had a record of
lead poisoning. Many workers complained of weakness,
fatigue of muscle, mood swings and forgetfulness. Even
after occupational health education, airborne lead level at
the assembly section was between 26–603.2 µg/m3
. These
results in general corresponded to the airborne lead level at
this section in our previous report (156–2,617 µg/m3 in the
years from 1998 to 2002)1). Because the average of airborne
lead levels exceeded the Thai standard level, the working
environment should be improved.
DiscussionAfter occupational health education was conducted withthe collaboration between workers and managers, manyworkers (80.6–100.0%) noticed and were aware of toxicityof lead and the necessity for protection against it. Theychanged the attitude toward their work and improved personalhygiene. The average blood lead level of the workers reduced.Thus, occupational health education and collaboration wereeffective to reduce the risk of lead poisoning of workers.As to knowledge on risk of contact with lead, all workersat the assembly section and the managers in the factory hadnever gotten the education about the toxicity of lead andthe prevention against it. Many workers consequently had lacked knowledge and/or understanding about them. Thebehaviors and personal hygiene were not adequate beforeoccupational health education. After occupational healtheducation, many workers were noticed and understood thetoxicity of lead and then changed the attitude toward theirwork and improved personal hygiene, for example washingtheir hands by a detergent before drinking water or havinglunch. Same results were shown in the results of HwangYH et al.6). In this research improved behaviors wereobserved further in some respects. They wore long sleevedshirt and trousers, quitted smoking in the workplace, andtook a bath after the work. Furthermore, they took offworking clothes at an office outside the workplace andwashed them everyday. This behavior is pointed out as oneof important ones in lead safety information7).The working environment at the assembly section wasunsuitable for workers. Fourteen workers had a record oflead poisoning. Many workers complained of weakness,fatigue of muscle, mood swings and forgetfulness. Evenafter occupational health education, airborne lead level atthe assembly section was between 26–603.2 µg/m3. Theseresults in general corresponded to the airborne lead level atthis section in our previous report (156–2,617 µg/m3 in theyears from 1998 to 2002)1). Because the average of airbornelead levels exceeded the Thai standard level, the workingenvironment should be improved.
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