Analysis of carbon fiber dust exposure status and related occupational health risk factors among workers during the molding process of carbon fiber products.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the exposure of workers to carbon fiber dust during the manufacturing process of carbon fiber products, and to assess the occupational health risk level and related risk factors among the exposed population. METHODS: A total of 955 workers engaged in carbon fiber product molding positions from 30 carbon fiber manufacturing enterprises in Shenzhen were selected. All workers underwent testing for carbon fiber dust exposure. The exposure status of hazardous factors among workers exposed to carbon fiber dust was analyzed, and questionnaire surveys and scale assessments were conducted. The quantitative assessment results of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) occupational health risk assessment model for workers exposed to carbon fiber dust were analyzed, and groups were divided according to their ICMM occupational health risk levels. Variables were screened via LASSO regression, followed by the construction of a binary Logistic regression model to analyze risk factors associated with occupational health risks among workers exposed to carbon fiber dust. RESULTS: Carbon fiber dust exposure was identified in 8.38% of employees, and the number of exposed employees varied significantly across different posts (P < 0.05). Per the ICMM occupational health risk assessment for workstations with carbon fiber dust-exposed employees, there were 3 cases of tolerable occupational health risk, 36 potential risk cases, 37 high-risk cases, 2 very high-risk cases, and 2 intolerable risk cases. A total of 5 variables were screened out by LASSO regression, regression analysis revealed that risk factors contributing to elevated occupational health risks among carbon fiber dust-exposed employees included years of prior frontline manufacturing work (OR = 5.018, 95% CI = 2.728-9.231) and employment in grinding workshops (OR = 3.111, 95% CI = 1.123-8.624). Protective factors against such risks encompassed high awareness of occupational disease prevention (OR = 0.739, 95% CI = 0.595-0.919) and college or bachelor's educational attainment (OR = 0.131, 95% CI = 0.024-0.699). CONCLUSION: Workers engaged in carbon fiber product molding face a certain risk of carbon fiber dust exposure. The occupational health risks of employees exposed to carbon fiber dust are associated with years of prior frontline work, educational background, personal protective behaviors, and other relevant factors.