Changes in work practice after a respiratory health survey among welders in New Zealand

Aims. To assess changes in work practice among eight New Zealand engineerin g sites, following a study of occupational respiratory symptoms in welders two years previously. Methods, In 1996, we found that an acute decrease in lung function was more common in welders working without local exhaust ventilation. Findings were reported back to management, study participants and the media. Two years L ater we re-visited the eight welding sites. Results, Of the eight engineering sites, two had local exhaust ventilation present in both Study 1 and Study 2, one site had installed local exhaust v entilation in part of the site since Study 1 and one site had moved to larg er premises. The remaining four sites had no exhaust ventilation or change to the workplace between studies. Five welders (12.8%) used respiratory pro tection in both Study 1 and Study 2, seven welders (18%) used respiratory p rotection in Study 1 but not Study 2, four welders (10.3%) did not have res piratory protection in Study 1 but did in Study 2 and nine welders (23.1%) did not use respiratory protection at all in Study 1 or Study 2. Conclusion. Further effort is required to ensure that such studies lead to significant improvements in the work environment.