The Study on Occupational Exposure and Health Status among Bus Drivers
Date Issued
2004
Date
2004
Author(s)
Chen, Yin-Jou
DOI
zh-TW
Abstract
With City development, public transportation systems, among buses, have become daily important tools. Bus drivers needs to sit for a long period, expose to noise and air pollution and vibration from traffic and vehicles. They all could make adverse effect to workers. We must investigate their occupational exposures and health status and protect health and safety of bus drivers.
Samples in this study are bus drivers and administrators in Taipei and Hsinchu. We measured noise and vibration exposure of bus drivers when they are working. Then collected and compared questionnaire and health examination data.
There were questionnaire data of 287 people. Average ages of workers are 47.2 ±7.1 and 45.8±7.8 years old. Average years of employment are 13.8±7.2 and 14.0±8.5. Education levels of bus drivers and administrators are senior high school and university graduated. Odds ratio of respiratory system in bus drivers is 1.82 (95% CI= 1.12-2.92), about two folds high than administrators. There are 18% drivers who thought them to have worse or worst health status. Self-reports of whole body vibration in these two groups are 43.7% and 11.5%, and hand- arm vibration are 31.1% and 14.4%. They all have significant differences.
We collected hand-arm vibration data of 15 and 19 person-times. Average tri-accelerations are 5.9、3.0、2.1 m/s2 in Taipei and4.3、1.4、1.0 m/s2 in Hsinchu. According to our country law, if total daily exposure duration is above 4 hours not exceed 8 hours, component acceleration which shall not be exceeded 4 hours. There are seven drivers (46.7%)in Taipei and seven drivers（36.8%） in Hsichu are against the law.
III
We collected dosimeter data of 68 and 70 people, totally 138 samples. TWA of Taipei and Hsinchu driver are 52.2及61.2dB(A). Noise exposure dose are 1.5% and 4.7%. The highest noise frequency are 250Hz (64.7dB(A))in Taipei and 125Hz (65.4dB(A)) in Hsinchu.
There were 130 drivers and 48 administrators, totally 178 people who had complete health examination and questionnaire data. Body Mass Index (BMI) of two groups are 26.0 and 24.2. There are 40(20.8%) and 6(12.5%) people of triglyceride dysfunction. BMI and triglyceride dysfunction have significant differences.
With results, we should monitor status of vibration and noise of bus drivers. And trace dysfunctions of health examination. Then we hope to protect health and safety of bus drivers and raise their working efficiency.
Subjects
公車司機.噪音.振動
vibration
noise
bus driver
SDGs
Type
thesis