SCERP Project Number: P-9
Principal Investigator: Donald Bloswick, Ph.D.
Co-Principal Investigator: Jeffrey S. Lee, Ph.D.
Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health,
University of Utah
1. Objectives of the project:
(1) conduct a through literature review of reported occupational and environmental health studies and develop an on-line bibliography.(2) visit some plants in the U.S./Mexico border region to identify potential occupational and environmental health problems.
(3) identify an academic institution in Mexico, develop a collaborative research and educational relationship, and plan short term continuing education programs and long-term academic exchange efforts to increase the number of individuals trained in environmental health in the region.
(4) plan and determine the feasibility of occupational and environmental health studies in the Region.
(5) develop and administer a questionnaire to assess degree of effort and impact of plant safety and health committees on accident and illness frequency;
(6) determine availability of occupational and environmental health manpower;
(7) determine the magnitude and nature of occupational exposures;
(8) conduct ergonomic assessments; and to
(9) assess potential effects from occupational exposures and ergonomic stress with medical examinations of workers.
2. Project Accomplishments:
All but one of the above objectives (objective 6) were accomplished.
The first of the above objectives were accomplished during the first quarter of the Project. A through literature review was conducted, hard copy was obtained and an on-line bibliography was created.
The feasibility of occupational and environmental health studies in the Region was determined (Objective 4). In July, 1991, seven maquiladora plants in the US/Mexico Border Region were visited by our study team in support of Objective 2. Results of these visits were presented an the Salt Lake City SW Center for Environmental Research and Policy Conference, August 15-16, 1991.
A manuscript was developed and submitted for publication entitled "A Field Study of Mexico's Maquiladora Industries" which is included in the Appendix.
A collaborative relationship was established with Technological Institute of Monterey (Objective 3). Drs. Moser and Barrier traveled to Monterey in August, 1991 and met with Dr. Ramon de la Pena (Dean of the Institute of Monterrey) and Dr. Carols Diaz Montemayor (Director of Health Science, Institute of Monterrey). Drs. Barrier and Moser also attended the Symposium on International Border Ecology cosponsored by the SW Center, the Technological Institute of Monterrey, and the Technological Institute of Juarez in August, 1991.
Collaborative relationships were also established with Dr. Maurcio Hernandez, Director of the Center for Public Health Research, National Institute of Public Health in Cuernavaca. Potential research and training projects were developed and submitted for funding consideration through SCERP for years FY02 and FY03.
A questionnaire (Objective 5) was developed to assess the impact of plant safety and health committees, and to quantify occupational and environmental health activity, manpower and expertise available within plants, the accident and illness frequency and nature, worker demography, the usage of potentially toxic materials, and the willingness of the plant to participate in further occupational and environmental health studies conducted by our Center. The effort focused on electronic and electronic component assembly and manufacturing in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Ciudad Juarez represents the city with the greatest number of maquiladoras engaged in electronic manufacture. One hundred and eight-four maquiladoras were identified in this city through a comprehensive listing prepared by the Association de Maquiladoras A.C. de Ciudad Juarez of which 94 were engaged in electronic manufacture. Of the 94 plants 88 were found to be active. Sixteen plants (18.2%) responded to the questionnaire and seven of these (approximately 40%) indicated a willingness to participate in future occupational and environmental health studies conducted by the Rocky Mountain Center. The responses indicated that a large percentage (i.e.74% of women and 51% of men) were exposed to physical ergonomic stresses. Sixty five percent of the workers are exposed to these repetitive hazards for a 48 hour work week. The largest of these plants, which agreed to cooperate in further studies employs 2,250 females and 750 males, with 1,500 females exposed to physical ergonomic risk factors. Plant management indicated of these 100 were also exposed to organic solvents.
We were unable to complete Objective 6 which was intended to estimate the available occupational and environmental health manpower in Mexico. This effort proved infeasible due to the difficulties in identifying individuals with this responsibility. Occupational and environmental activities in Mexico are commonly conducted by plant engineers who have other responsibilities. Medical care is provided under a socialized system where occupational and environmental disease is not distinguished.
We completed a study at a medical devices manufacturing maquiladora plant located in Nogales, Mexico in support of Objectives 7 and 8 above. The study was conducted from November 17-19, 1992. Assessment of magnitude and nature of occupational exposures and ergonomic assessments respectively, were accomplished during this study. A report was finalized and submitted to plant management (see Appendix).
A medical study of the workers in this plant, in support of Objective 9 above, was conducted August 16-20, 1993. This study consisted of medical examinations, focusing on Upper Extremity Cumulative Trauma Disease (UECTD and included occupational environmental air monitoring. The medical examinations were conducted on all production employees who have worked more than six months at this plant. The data collected during this study will be analyzed and efforts will begin to prepare a final report and a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal . We anticipate this effort will be completed by February 1, 1994.
Throughout the duration of this project, Drs. Lee and Moser served on
the SCERP Technical Advisory Committee and participated in all meetings
of this group.
3. Difficulties Encountered:
Medical studies were confined to only one plant. It would be desirable to expand this research effort to additional maquiladora plants to determine if the findings are representative.
The FY91 SCERP-supported phase of this project:: P-1
The FY92 SCERP-supported phase of this project: P-9
Last updated 7/1/99