Objectives In order to understand and improve the environment for glass manufacturing operation, to prevent and control of occurring occupational diseases, and to protect workers' health.

Method Detecting the environment in workplace, inspecting personnel occupational health and analyzing the data statistically by chi-square method.

Results Cutting workers and mixing workers contacted with high concentration of free SiO₂ dusts (13.2%~93.8%). The concentration of dusts was high in 41 detected points and 98% of them were exceeding the occupational standard limits; the intensity of noise was over the standard limits in 13 of 86 points, and in the range of 63~95 dB (A). The rate of main respiratory system symptoms such as coughing, expectoration, short of breath, sore throat, and dryness of nasal mucous membrane was significantly higher in the observation group than the control group (P less than 0.01). The rate of other symptoms such as loss of appetite, general ache of the body, limb numbness, urgency of urination and frequent urination was also significantly higher in the observation group (P less than 0.01). The characteristic of pulmonary function damage was restrictive lung ventilation dysfunction, which was worse in the observation group compared with the control group (P less than 0.01).

Conclusions The working environment in glass manufacturing industries was bad; more attention should be paid to the migrant workers who might become the main objects of this occupational disease.