Nike Corporation Articles

Health Survey of Workers Exposed to Mixed Solvent and Ergonomic Hazards in Footwear and Equipment Factory Workers in Thailand

Lori Todd1,*, Sitthichok Tony Puangthongthub2, Kathleen Mottus1, Gary Mihlan3 and Steven Wing4

1 Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
2 Department of General Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Prathumwam, Bangkok 10300, Thailand
3 Bayer Corporation, 8400 Hawthorne Road, PO Box 4913, Kansas City, MO 64120, USA
4 Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill

Abstract
A cross-sectional health study was performed at four footwear and one equipment factory in Thailand to evaluate the prevalence of chemical- and ergonomic-related symptoms in Thai factory workers and to investigate associations between these symptoms and exposures to organic solvents, isocyanates and ergonomic risks. A 10-page health questionnaire was administered to 1784workers across the four footwear and equipment factories. A total of 1675 questionnaires were returned, yielding a 94% response rate. The questionnaires asked about age, gender, use of chemicals,use of personal protective equipment and health outcomes. Without exception, the percentages of workers reporting symptoms after being hired were higher than those reporting symptoms before being hired for all the factories. The highest symptom percentages were related to ergonomic stressors. Multiple logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted prevalence odds ratios and 95%confidence intervals. This study showed that adverse health effects experienced by footwear and equipment factory workers are associated with occupational exposures to chemicals (volatile organic solvents and water-based adhesives) and ergonomic hazards.  Read the article

A Survey of Airborne and Skin Exposures to Chemicals in Footwear and Equipment Factories in Thailand  Authors: Lori A. Todda; Kathleen Mottusa; Gary J. Mihlanba

Affiliations:
a Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
b Bayer CropScience, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Abstract
This research reports on a pilot industrial hygiene study that was performed at four footwear factories and two equipment factories in Thailand. Workers in these factories were exposed through inhalation and dermal contact to a large number of organic vapors from solvents and cements that were hand applied. In addition, these workers were exposed to highly toxic isocyanates primarily through the dermal route. A total of 286 personal air samples were obtained at the four footwear factories using organic vapor monitors; individual job tasks were monitored using a real-time MIRAN Spectrometer. A total of 64 surface, tool, or hand samples were monitored for isocyanates using surface contamination detectors. Real-time measurements were also obtained for organic vapors in two equipment factories. From 8% to 21% of the workers sampled in each footwear factory were overexposed to mixtures of chemicals from solvents and cements. Up to 100% of the workers performing specific job tasks were overexposed to mixtures of chemicals. From 39% to 69% of the surface samples were positive for unreacted isocyanates. Many of the real-time measurements obtained in the equipment factories exceeded occupational exposure limits. Personal protective equipment and engineering controls were inadequate in all of the factories.  Read the article