[vol.16] [Feature] Uses of organic chemicals and women workers health
WORKING WOMAN 2008. 3. 21. 10:41Moh Yoon-sook (head of education and publicization of IWWA)
In 1996, 33 workers (25 women and 8 men) working in switch processing lines, have been poisioned by the solvent 5200 and have been disganosed with occupational disease. Malfunctioning ovaria has stopped the menstruation cycles of women workers with such symptoms and malfunctioning marrow has also resulted in pernicious anemia.
Since the chemical was not known to affect reproduction, they were exposed to the chemical, working without any ventilation for a month. Chemicals including organic solvents can affect future generations as well as damage the health of workers.
However, women workers affected by hazardous chemicals usually regard their symptoms as personal health problems. Moreover, women workers who resigned early have difficulty relating their symptoms with occupational diseases because they normally become sick after they stop working.
In spite of increasing women's participation in the manufacturing sector, their health conditions and industrial hazards in the workplace have not been examined. KWWAU and its three regional associations (in Inchon, Kwangju and Masan & Changwon), and the Labor & Health Research Center conducted surveys on situations in which using organic solvents were used, targeting 606 women workers working at 27 workshops in the electronic, electricity and chemical industries. The research was done between November 1997 and February 1998. The research results are as follows:
Research Outcomes
- Surveying individual union members
In terms of organic chemical uses and ventilations, 75.6% replied that chemicals are used partially or in all processes. However, only 28.2% answered that their workplaces have no type of ventilations facilities at all.
30.6% said that factories have ventilation without additional ventilations for special processes. 11.1% complained that ventilation facilities do not work properly or work at all. 30.1% replied that their companies do not open windows all day on rainy days and/or winter. This shows that working conditions in regard with ventilation are are extremely unhealthy.
In terms of specialized medical check-ups, 11 workers (27.5%) received yearly medical checks and 84 (20.8%) received medical check-ups every 6 months. So, a majority are found to receive no proper medical check-up.
Even though only 37% said that they directly treat organic chemicals, they were found to have such common symptoms related to nerve break-down due to exposure exposures, such as as difficulty in concentration(62%) a symptom of chronic malfunction of poisoned nerve system, emotional instability (60.8%), and insomnia (35.4%). Also, they experience other nerve-related symptoms such as weariness (79.7%), anxiety (74.8%) without any reasons, and becoming easily tired (60.4%).
Amongst married women who treat organic chemicals, 7.69% answered their sexual health is deteriorating and 50.77% replied that there is no change in their relationship, compared to before.
Amongst the group who handles organic chemicals, 96 women workers (41.38%) experience changes in cycles and the amount of their menstruation. Also, those who have such changes account for 31.03% of the total participants. 15.52% have shortened menstruation cycles while 51.7% said their cycles have become longer. 12.93% answered that their cycles have become irregular since they started to treat organic chemicals, and 4.74% have much more irregular menstruations than before.
Table 1. Changes in cycles and amounts of manstruation
Changes in cycles and amounts of manstruations No. of workers (%) No changes 84 (36.21) Changes 96 (41.38) No answer 52 (22.41) Total 232 (100.00) Since working at that workplaces, 58.9% have aching necks, arms and hands, 58.4% deteriorating eye sights, 45.5% headaches, 46.9% backaches, and 34.5% digestion problems. Also, 32.7% have swollen and/or aching legs, and 32.7% feel dizzy. 31.7% have anemia, 26.7% irregular manstruation, 17.3% insomnia, 13.2% nerve breaking-down, 8.6% piles, 8.4% low blood pressure, 13.0% irregular heart-beating, and 1.5% have difficulties in breathing.
- Surveying trade unions
Most participants in this survey work in large-scale companies: women working at firm with 50 employees consisted of 8.3%, between 50 and 300 16.6%, and over 300, 74.7%. The average number of workers are 498.4 (women workers constitute 47.4% in their workplaces). Methyl alcohol, toluene, and acetone are labelled as organic chemicals mostly used in their workplaces. Workers treat chemicals in 6 lines at most. Only one trade union (8.3%) has a department specializing in women workers' health and welfare, which means that structure for women workers' health and welfare are severely lacking.
Table 2. Establishment of departments specializing in women workers' health and welfare in trade unions
No. of companies No 11 (91.7) Yes 1 (8.3) Total 12 (100.0) Only two trade unions (16.7%) have special occupational health and safety programs such as women's educationsal programs targeting women.
Table 3. special occupational health and safety programs targeting for women
No. of companies No 10 (83.3) Yes 2 (16.7) Total 12 (100.0) Companies do not usually discuss introducing new chemicals with trade unions. Only two companies (16.7%) discuss occupational health issues with their unions.
Table 4. Discussion between management and unions about new chemicals
Table 4. Discussion between management and unions about new chemicals No 10 (83.3) Yes 2 (16.7) Total 12 (100.0) Necessity for Long-term policies The research results indicate a close relationship between organic chemical use and women's health. Married women exposed to these chemicals have experienced several failures while pregnant. Additionally, changes in the amount and menstruation cycles were found amongst all participants who were exposed to these chemicals.
However, it is very difficult to connect their health problems which occur very late, with occupational diseases, since women workers usually retire from their jobs early. Workers have to live in pain once they have occupational diseases. In particular, women's pain is particularly severe during maternity. So, prevention should be taken immediately .
Practical legal measures for women workers are needed. No restrictions are set for women workers, although they are exposed to various hazardous chemicals affecting their maternity. Long-term preventative measures and policies based on specialized research on chemicals used in workplaces should be made.