피혁제조 산업장의 작업환경실태에 관한 조사 연구 = A Study on Status of Work Environment in Treating Skins

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Objective: This study was aimed to prepare the fundamental data on the exposure level of physical agents and hazardous materials originated from in the leather manufacturing industry to identify potential factors capable of causing worker's health problems.
Method and Materials: Subjects related to this study consist of 50 leather manufacturing factories located in Busan area from Feb. 1. 2000 to Dec. 31. 2001
Results: Potentially hazardous chemical substances and physical agents originated from the leather manufacturing industry were noise, dust, chromium, eight organic chemical substances, and three specific chemical substances, buffing and setting process were exceeded Threshold Limit Values-Time Weighted Average(85 dBA) recommended in American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. The exposure level for chromium in dyeing process was higher than that of other processes. Organic solvents capable of causing health problems were originated from the painting and coating process. Exposure level for chromium and organic solvents were not exceeded in each permissible exposure level established in Korea.
Conclusion: As a result, a wide variety of hazardous materials related to occupation were originated from the leather manufacturing industry. The author suggests that more positive work environment management program should be required to identify factors relative to occupational health problems.