Professional paper
ECOLOGICAL MONITORING OF WORK ENVIRONMENT IN A STEEL GRID COLUMN GALVANIZATION FACTORY
Liljana Dimitrovska
; Institut za medicinu rada, Skopje
Dragi Kostoski
; Institut za medicinu rada, Skopje
Abstract
The objective of this paper is the ecological monitoring of the work environment in a factory which galvanizes steel grid columns. In order to assess the risk of employee exposure to harmful substances, testing was conducted in the work environment. Ecological monitoring was performed in nine workplaces which involved exposure to nocuous chemical and physical agents released during technological processes. Measurements were taken to show the presence and concentration of zinc, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, ammonia, carbon monoxide and total dust particles, while the measured physical factors included microclimatic conditions, illumination and noise levels.
The test results show that concentrations of hydrochloric acid exceeded the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) in all nine workplaces during the summer months, while during the winter this maximum was exceeded only at one workplace. Excessive concentration of total dust particles was measured at all measuring points in both the summer and winter periods. Concentrations of carbon monoxide, sodium hydroxide, ammonia and zinc were below the MAC limit. The measured microclimatic conditions and illumination levels did not correspond to the recommended values, particularly in the winter months.
In the environment where steel grid columns are galvanized there is a continuous presence of chemical substances in the form of gases and dust which may reduce capacity for work and cause acute poisoning, thus increasing the risk of developing an occupationally-related disease.
Keywords
ecological monitoring; occupational environment; galvanization; steel grid columns
Hrčak ID:
35283
URI
Publication date:
7.4.2009.
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