Objective To conduct risk analysis on occupational hazards based upon a cross-sectional assessment of a printing company.
Methods A comprehensive risk analysis was performed on the data and documents collected from occupational health field sruvey, hazardous substances monitoring, and occupational health examination, as well as on protection equipment and individual protection status.
Results The chemicals used in the printing company included printing ink, fountain solution, additive agent, computer-to-plate (CTP) developer, and solvent gasoline. Potential occupational hazards during the printing process were benzene, toluene, xylene, n-hexane, cyclohexane, isopropyl alcohol, solvent gasoline, and noise from operating machines. The test results showed that the chemical hazards met the related national limits, but three out of six workstations with noise exposure failed. All field workers were not respirator equipped, and only ear-plug(s) were equipped for those in rotary printing workshop. Forced ventilation was installed in each workshop, but there was no fresh-air device installed in the air conditioning systems.
Conclusion Noise is the main occupational hazard in the printing company. Future work should focus on the protection and control of occupational noise and chemical hazards.
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