Investigation and analysis on occupational hazard factors exposure to the female workers in Gansu province

Abstract

Objective: To investigation on the occupational hazardous factors exposed to the female workers, from 14 prefectures and municipalities in Gansu province. Methods: The survey was conducted from June to October 2015. A total of 8 538 female employees from 30 enterprises in 14 prefectures and cities of the province were selected by cluster sampling method. The occupational hazard factors were investigated and analyzed statistically. Results: The survey found that the proportion of female workers in Gansu province who are exposed to chemical and physical harmful factors at the same time is relatively large. Most female workers are exposed to 2-4 occupational hazards, and women who are exposed to 3 and 4 chemical harmful factors account for 28.8 % and 38.0 %, respectively. Women workers who were exposed to two or three physical factors at the same time accounted for 59.44 per cent, while 61.5% were exposed to two biological factors at the same time. The number of female workers exposed to two or three physical factors at the same time and the number of four and five physical factors at the same time after being tested by χ(2). The difference is statistically significant (χ(2)= 8.17, P<0.05) . The difference in the number of female workers who simultaneously exposed 3 and 4 chemical factors and simultaneously exposed 2 and 5 or more chemical factors is statistically significant (χ(2)=11.26, P<0.05) . There was no significant difference in the exposure of female workers to biological factors. Conclusion: This survey shows that the exposure of female workers in Gansu Province to occupational hazards is not optimistic. We should strengthen enterprise supervision and improve the working environment and conditions of female workers.