Relationship Between Occupational Risk and Personal Protective Equipment on the Example of Ferroalloy Production

Abstract

The objective of this work was to present the results of a comprehensive hygienic assessment of the occupational hazards in the ferroalloy production of a metallurgical plant. For the purpose of evaluating occupational hazards, we used data on the injury potential and occupational agents involved in working conditions, safety indicators for production facilities, occupational diseases, and the provision of workers with personal protective equipment. The assessment of occupational hazards demonstrated that for each of the occupations studied the occupational risk is equal to level 3, which means an average degree of risk. As a result of the research, the working conditions of the main occupational groups of the ferroalloy facility were evaluated as hazardous and injurious 3rd class of the 1st grade. After the intervention, it appeared that the workers were exposed to hazardous occupational noise. Acoustic equivalent levels at working places of the charge smelter, a crane operator, a senior melting operator, a furnace operator ranged from 85 to 87 dBA, which exceeds the maximum permissible level by 5-7 dB. Mathematical data processing showed that the distribution of noise in the working areas obeys a polynomial dependence. This paper provides recommendations on the implementation of a risk-oriented approach to the provision of personal protective equipment. © 2022 WITPress. All rights reserved.