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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Ae-Suk Jeong, PhD, MPH, RN, Health Administration/Institute for Health and Welfare, Yonsei University, 234 Maeji-Ri Heungup-Myun, Wonju, 220-710, South Korea, 82-33-760-2362, healthy@yonsei.ac.kr and OiSaeng Hong, PhD, RN, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 N. Ingalls, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.

Introduction: Numerous health and safety risks in drycleaning workers have been reported in the literature. However no study has investigated health and safety problems among Korean-American drycleaners, the largest ethnic minority in the U.S. drycleaning industry. The purpose of this study was to identify common occupational health and safety problems experienced by Korean-American drycleaners.

Methods: A survey of Korean-American drycleaners in Michigan was conducted from November 2005 to February 2006. Question topics included injury experiences from four major hazards (accidental, physical, chemical, and biological) and symptoms related to chemical exposure experienced in the past 12 months. Data were collected through the mail and visits to shops and ethnic organizations.

Results: A total of 105 workers from 96 drycleaning shops with 3.7 average of workers completed the occupational exposure and injury survey. Of all participants, 64% were men, and 58% had multiple duties including drycleaning machine operation. Mean age was 45 (range 22~70) and averages years working in dry-cleaning was 11 (range 0.5~30). The most frequently reported problems were burns (58%), fatigue and heat exhaustion (35%), low back injury and irritation of eyes, nose, and throat (23%). Several symptoms related to chemical exposure were also reported: headache (37%), loss of visual perception (32%), irritation of eyes, throat and nose (27-29%) dizziness (21%), nausea (19%), skin irritation and redness (17%), and loss of memory (15%).

Conclusion: The study clearly showed Korean-American drycleaners are exposed to several hazards at work. Development and implementation of training program for this population is needed.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe major health and safety problems among drycleaning workers.
• Identify common health symptoms related to chemical exposure in drycleaning.

Keywords: Occupational Health, Asian Americans

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation