Problem:
Mr Chow, a 58-year-old man working at a bicycle manufacturing factory complained of loss of smell for the past 5 years. He did not have any other medical condition and was not on any long-term medication. He has completed COVID-19 vaccination. He did not have any history of contracting COVID-19.
Prior to working in this current factory, he was working in a factory that produces kitchen products. He started working in this current factory 20 years ago. He worked at the assembly line for the first 12 years and as a quality control worker at the spray-painting line for the past 8 years.
This production line is involved in spray painting bicycle frames and components. His job in quality control is to ensure that the paints are smoothly applied to the bicycle frame. He also needs to touch up any parts of the frame with spray paint if a defect is detected.
He sought medical treatment at the nearby company clinic. The doctor at the clinic made a diagnosis of olfactory dysfunction and informed the company that the worker's condition could be due to his current work.
You are working as the Occupational Safety and Health Officer at the factory. The management has asked you to manage the issue.