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Med. Pr. 2006;57(1):1-6

Working environment hazards in production of building fittings and metal accessories

Zagrożenia środowiska pracy w procesach produkcji okuć budowlanych i detali metalowych

Ewa Gawęda, Dorota Kondej Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Warszawa, Poland

Abstract

Background: This paper presents an analysis of chemical and physical hazards occurring at workposts of plants involved in the production of building fittings and metal accessories. The analysis is based on the data obtained from voivodeship (province) sanitary and epidemiological stations as well as on the results of initial measurements of respirable and total dust concentrations and noise levels at workposts of the six selected plants. Materials and Methods: Methods described in standards: PN-91/Z-04030/05, PN-91/Z-04030/06 and PN-91/Z-04018/04 were applied for the determination of dusts containing free crystalline silica. Air samples were collected according to the principles of personal dosimetry, and measurements of noise were takenaccording to PN-N-1307:1994. Results and Conclusions: Very small enterprises of no more than 10 employees (39.3%) and small enterprises with 10 to 49 employees (42.6%) predominate among plants that produce building fittings and metal accessories.Among physical hazards, noise occupies a particular place in 96.7% of plants. In 65.4% of plants, dusts containing free crystalline silica were suspended in the ambient air. Exposure to chemical hazards was observed in 60.7% of plants. Metals and their compounds were found to be the most harmful chemical factors in the processes of founding and mechanical working of elements of building fittings and metal accessories.

Key words

metal fittings, manufacturing process, chemical and physical factors, hazards at workposts