Developing health impact assessment tools : a case study of cement factory in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to develop health impact assessment tools (HIA) specific to the roofing fiber cement industry. This study has been conducted in two phases. The first phase is a descriptive review and basis of the study. The drafted HIA tools were appraised by HIA experts. The second phase is the implementation and evaluation of HIA tools through pilot testing in a fiber cement factory. The developed HIA tools were drafted according to the 5 steps of HIA approaches including: screening, scoping, appraisal or assessment, reporting and reviewing, and monitoring and evaluation. Both qualitative and quantitative measurements were used for assessing the occupational exposure risks in the factory and the community nearby. A cross-sectional study was utilized. Personal and environmental samplings and spirometry measurements were also collected. In this study, the HIA tools focused on risks and impacts on human health based on specific health determinants. Percentage values were categorized into five groups as follows: minimal health risk, low, moderate, high, and very high impacts on human health. The appraisal for HIA in fiber cement factories could lead to the employment of systematic determination of potential health impacts. This study employed the impacts on human risks into two-dimensions: health risk matrix of exposure rating and health effect rating. The health risk matrix score (HRM) was determined through the quantitative measurements on the health risk assessment. The affected populations in the near group (2-km; score = 20) have a HRM score slightly higher than the far group (5-km; score = 10), but the employees had a higher HRM score (score = 40) than both of the affected populations. In conclusion, the application of the HRM score as a HIA tool for roofing fiber cement factories could be employed for quantitative risk assessment. However, further study is warranted. This study suggested that the HIA conducting should be initially started with a preparation stage to gather important data and resources. Experts and/or the advisory committee should also step in at this stage. Stakeholders and affected populations should be involved in all stages from the pre-step through the monitoring and evaluation stages.