Application of Singapore model in occupational health risk assessment of workstations exposed to wood dust in small furniture manufacturing enterprises

Background Singapore model takes full account of the intensity or concentration of hazard factors, working time, and frequency, and has been well applied in many industries except in furniture manufacturing enterprises.

Objective Singapore model is used to assess the occupational health risk of workstations exposed to wood dust in nine small furniture manufacturing enterprises, and the applicability of the Singapore model is discussed, so as to provide evidence for the prevention and control of wood dust.

Methods Six workstations exposed to wood dust in nine small furniture manufacturing enterprises were evaluated by Singapore model, and the results were compared with the results of the classification of occupational hazards at workplace.

Results The results of Singapore model indicated that 46.3% and 48.1% of the 54 workstations were identified at high and extremely high risk levels. The risk ratio by Singapore model was significantly higher than that by the national classification of occupational hazards at workplaces for cutting, sealing, milling, and carving workstations (P < 0.05), but was not different for drilling and grinding workstations (P>0.05). The consistency rate of the two methods was 20.4% and the weighted Kappa value was 0.050, which was not statistically significant (Z=1.878, P=0.060).

Conclusion Singapore model can be used to assess the occupational health risk of furniture manufacturing enterprises. There are occupational health risks in workstations exposed wood dust in furniture manufacturing enterprises, so the prevention and control of wood dust should be strengthened.