Lower Vapor Concentrations in Solvent Workplaces in Larger-Scale Enterprises than in Smaller-Scale Enterprises, and Exceptions.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between environmental vapor concentrations in organic solvent workplaces and size of enterprises, and to examine if occupational hygiene conditions were better in larger-scale enterprises. For this purpose, a total of 3,567 solvent workplaces were surveyed for environmental solvent vapor concentrations in 1999 to 2002. The results were classified by the size of enterprises (taking the number of employees as an indicator) and by the type of solvent work. It was observed that the vapor concentration in a typical small-scale enterprise was approximately three times as high as that in the large-scale enterprise, although the administrative control levels were not exceeded in general. The proportion of testing and research work (with less use of organic solvents and thus low vapor concentrations) among all solvent workplaces was higher in large-scale enterprises than in small-scale enterprises. The vapor concentrations in this type of workplace did not differ however irrespective of the enterprise size. Further comparison in various types of solvent workplaces disclosed similar size-dependent difference in workplaces for degreasing, cleaning, wiping, printing, and surface coating. In painting and solventdrying work, in contrast, there was no difference in environmental concentration regardless of the size of enterprises, possibly because environmental improvement of this type of workplaces was technically more difficult than others. Thus, it was concluded that large-scale enterprises generally had better control of work environments than small-scale enterprises, with possible exceptions of painting work and solvent-drying work.

Organic Solvent Use in Enterprises in Japan

“…In contrast, 25 solvents (3 solvents in Group 1 and 22 solvents in Group 2) were detected only in limited occasions (i.e., less than 1%). Better working environments (e.g., lower solvent levels in workroom air) in large-scale enterprises are on line with previous findings 12) . Table 6 summarizes results of previous solvent survey by this study group, in comparison with the present findings.…”

“…The target solvents were Group 1 (7 types) and Group 2 (40 types) solvents as prescribed in the Ordinance for Prevention of Organic Solvent Poisoning (Table 1 19,20) ), similar to the previous publications [11][12][13][14] ; Group 3 solvents were not measured as they are natural solvent mixtures 11,14) . The methods of workroom air sampling (by the Tedlar bag method) and instrumental analyses (by capillary gas-chromatography) were in accordance with regulatory standards, as previously described in details 11,14) .…”

“…This study group has been compiling data on solvent components commonly detected in various workplaces in enterprises since 1980s [9][10][11][12][13][14] . The historical data will be compared in the present report with the results of the latest air analysis to clarify trends in the types of solvents in solvent workplaces.…”

Relation of Average and Highest Solvent Vapor Concentrations in Workplaces in Small to Medium Enterprises and Large Enterprises

“…It may be possible to expect empirically that better industrial hygiene would be practiced in large enterprises with sufficient resources, so that not only RWC would be lower but VWC also would be smaller (i.e., closer to 1), and thus, EHC would be lower and the ratio of EHC over RWC would be also closer to 1. Nevertheless, relationships among RWC, VWC and EHC [3][4][5] and the possible effects of enterprise size on the relationships 6) have been examined only on limited occasions. In addition, experiences suggest that occupational hygiene condition may vary subject to types of solvent work 6,7) .…”

“…Nevertheless, relationships among RWC, VWC and EHC [3][4][5] and the possible effects of enterprise size on the relationships 6) have been examined only on limited occasions. In addition, experiences suggest that occupational hygiene condition may vary subject to types of solvent work 6,7) .…”