Objective To study the epidemiological characteristics of cases of occupational hydrofluoric acid burns in western Zhejiang Province, and to provide evidence for safety production management and formulating prevention and control measures.
Methods Retrospective epidemiological analysis was performed to collect data of 316 occupational hydrofluoric acid burn cases treated in the Department of Burns and Department of Ophthalmology in Zhejiang Quhua Hospital from January 2004 to December 2016.Information on patient general demographic characteristics, enterprise characteristics, and relevant incidence features were collected and analyzed, and the distribution of burn sites and poisoning degrees between patients from chemical enterprises and nonchemical enterprises were compared.
Results The incidence of occupational hydrofluoric acid burns in western Zhejiang Province was increasing annually from 2004 to 2016.When stratified by age, the highest incidence rate was found in the 30-50 year-old age group (64.9%).More than half (53.8%) of the patients were from fluorine chemical enterprises, and the others were from non-chemical enterprises such as handling and transportation, metal casting, and glass and crystal work (46.2%).A high incidence rate was found in private enterprises (64.2%).As to protective equipment, 64.2% of the patients didn't wear effective protective equipment, 32.9% were dressed in damaged protective equipment or not properly dressed, and 2.9% wore protective equipment contaminated with hydrofluoric acid.Most of the burns were small.Burns on head-neck (27.9%) and haunch-leg (19.5%) were common in the chemical enterprises, while hand burns (24.0%) were common in the non-chemical enterprises (χ2=154.95, P < 0.01).The severity of burns was higher in the chemical enterprises than in the non-chemical enterprises (χ2=67.70, P < 0.01).
Conclusion The incidence rate of occupational hydrofluoric acid burns is higher in the fluorine chemical enterprises than the non-fluorine chemical enterprises.It is suggested to strengthen occupational health and safety education and protective equipment allocation for high-risk workers.
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