The integrated working conditions and labor safety assessment in foundries

The results of research on working conditions and labor safety assessment in foundries are presented. The production factors of working conditions in foundries with different types of production and their impact on injuries and professional incidence of workers are considered. Recommendations to improve working conditions and reduce their impact on foundry workers are given.

Investigation of the Effect of Modifying the AlSi7Mg0.3 Alloy with a Fast-Cooled Master Alloy Using Heat Treatment

The development of modern high-tech industries of industrial production is impossible without the development of new methods for processing materials with high mechanical characteristics. There is a growing need for an increase in the proportion of parts made of aluminum alloys, a more complex configuration of cast parts, an increase in their reliability and durability in operation, etc. All this poses for metallurgists and foundry workers the task of creating new technologies for producing alloys, improving the technical and economic characteristics of structural materials, improving the quality and reducing the cost of castings.Hypoeutectic silumins have good casting properties, good weldability, machinability and corrosion resistance. However, they are prone to the formation of a coarse needle-like state, which reduces their useful characteristics. To eliminate this phenomenon, it is necessary to apply special technologies and the most common is their modification, which provides grain refinement. This makes it possible to use silumins for the manufacture of castings of complex shapes with increased density and low shrinkage porosity. Such parts can withstand average loads in critical units. Aluminum-silicon alloy AK7 or (ASi7Mg0.3) is a typical silumin, which is in demand in the automotive industry, construction, aircraft construction, machine, automobile and tractor production. It is appreciated for its good casting properties, weldability, machinability and corrosion resistance.

The influence of smoking on the formation of occupational lung diseases in workers who come into contact with industrial aerosols

The formation of a healthy lifestyle is one of the most important tasks of disease prevention. Among the factors that negatively affect the health of the population, smoking is of great importance. The influence of smoking on the formation of occupational diseases in workers in harmful and (or) dangerous working conditions has not been sufficiently studied. Based on the knowledge of the pathogenesis of common diseases, it can be assumed with a high degree of probability that smoking can provoke the development of occupational pathology of the respiratory organs, malignant neoplasms, vascular pathology.The aim of the work was to study the clinical manifestations of chronic bronchitis, characterizing the state of the bronchopulmonary system, in smokers and non-smokers who had long-term contact with industrial dust, as well as to analyze the literature data on the impact of smoking on the development of occupational lung diseases in workers exposed to asbestos dust.Materials and methods of research. In the clinic “Research Institute of Occupational Medicine named after Academician N.F. Izmerov”, 55 workers were examined under the influence of industrial aerosols of fibrogenic action. The group of smokers consisted of 45 people: 25 people were coal miners, 20 people were foundry workers. The group of non-smokers consisted of 10 people: 6 coal miners and 4 foundry workers. The severity of the course of professional and non-professional chronic bronchitis in patients was assessed taking into account the clinical manifestations and frequency of exacerbations of the disease, as well as taking into account the severity of respiratory disorders and gas exchange disorders.Results and discussion. In the group of smoking patients, 93,3% had occupational chronic bronchitis, 6.7% had no such pathology. In the group of non-smoking patients with and without occupational chronic bronchitis, there were equally – 50,0%. In the group of smoking patients, 55,5 of the examined patients had respiratory insufficiency of the II degree; 15,5% were diagnosed with respiratory insufficiency of the III degree; cases without respiratory function impairment (DN0 art.) were only 8,8%. In the group of non-smoking patients, grade II DN was more than three times less frequent, amounting to 20,0%, while 40,0% had grade 0 DN and 40,0% had grade I DN; grade III DN was never diagnosed in this group of patients.Conclusion. Smoking, as an independent factor, can play a significant, and in some cases, obviously, a determining role in the development and progression of chronic bronchitis in people exposed to industrial aerosols.The health risks associated with tobacco should be taken into account as an integral part of the assessment of the risks of developing occupational diseases.

Occupational exposure to metal-rich particulate matter modifies the expression of repair genes in foundry workers

Foundry workers are exposed to numerous occupational health hazards, which may result in increased risk of cancer, respiratory disease, and other diseases. Oxidative stress is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of such diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the association between multiple occupational exposures in foundry workers and expression of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) repair genes as a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage. The study sample comprised 17 foundry workers and 27 matched control subjects. Expression of 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase-1 (OGG1), inosine triphosphate pyrophosphate (ITPA), and MutT homolog 1 (MTH1) in peripheral blood was examined using the real-time polymerase chain reaction method. Air sampling to determine exposure to metal-rich particulate matter and measurement of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) were conducted according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health standard methods. Personal air sampling revealed that occupational exposure to particulate matter exceeded the threshold limit values (TLVs) in 76% of the workstations, whereas ELF-EMF exposure appeared to be lower than the TLV. ITPA was significantly upregulated in foundry workers compared with control subjects, whereas no significant difference was observed for OGG1 and MTH1. Moreover, ITPA was strongly and positively correlated with the concentration of metal-rich particulate matter in foundry workers. No significant correlation was found between ELF-EMF exposure and expression of DNA repair genes. DNA repair gene expression may be a sensitive biomarker for occupational exposures, which suggests an involvement of oxidative stress in metal-induced toxicity. Further studies are needed to determine the role of DNA repair gene expression in response to occupational/environmental hazards.

Awareness and practice of safety measures against occupational hazards among aluminium foundry workers in Jos, Nigeria

Background: Founding predisposes the worker to hazards (extreme heat, dust, fumes, sharp objects), which if unchecked, can cause health problems (burns, respiratory problems, cuts). This study aimed to assess the awareness and practice of safety measures against occupational hazards among aluminium foundry workers in Jos-North LGA.Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study, which involved 125 aluminium foundry workers in Laranto-Katako area of Jos-North LGA. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Analysis of data was done using EPI-Info® version 3.5.4 statistical software package. A probability value of p≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: All 125 (100%) respondents were males with a mean age of 24.8±9.7 years and 52 (41.2%) were less than 20 years of age. The study revealed that 118 (94.4%) of them were aware of occupational hazards associated with foundries; The hazards most known were fires with 116 (92.8%) mentions, extreme heat, 85 (68.0) and sharp objects, 85 (68.0%), and with the least being, long working hours, 25 (20.0%). A majority, 118 (94.4%) were aware of hand gloves, 114 (91.2%) nose masks with overalls having the least awareness, 13 (10.4%). The most frequently used safety measures were nose masks, 73 (58.4%), then hand gloves, 57 (45.6%). A statistically significant relationship, with p value of 0.0321, was found between the level of education and the practice of safety measures.Conclusions: The study showed that most of the foundry workers had good knowledge of the hazards, safety measures; however, there was low use of safety measures. An educational campaign on the hazards and use of safety measures, accompanied by the efforts of the government, should be instituted for the foundry workers regularly to help safeguard their health.

Assessment of professional risks for employees of the foundry of the "Production company" LLC (Irkutsk)

Based on the analysis of regulatory documents on risk management, the choice of methods for assessing professional risks for workers in the foundry of a heavy industry plant was justified. The FineKinney and Matrix methods as the most simple to use, but effective and widely used were chosen, and the professional risks for the main professions of the foundry workers were assessed. The article aims to study the influence of the complex impact of harmful and hazardous production factors of foundries on the level of occupational risk for employees of structural divisions and enterprises of the metallurgical industry using the example of LLC Production Company, Irkutsk. It was shown that the Fine-Kinney method can be considered a reliable tool for making management decisions. The matrix method gives a clear qualitative picture. The probabilities of occupational risks associated with the technological process were determined. They can be reduced by taking measures aimed to improve working conditions even for one hazard source. Recommendations for improving the working conditions of the foundry workers were provided: modern equipment taking into account BAT, advanced PPE, air spraying, gas cleaning units and an improved ventilation system. These measures can significantly reduce the level of professional risk of employees.

Vibration related symptoms and signs in quarry and foundry workers

Purpose The development of vascular and neurosensory findings were studied in two groups of long-term exposed quarry and foundry workers with different vibration exposures, working conditions and work tasks. Methods The study included 10 quarry workers (mean age 43 yrs., mean exposure time 16 yrs.) and 15 foundry workers (35 yrs.; 11 yrs.) at two plants in Sweden. All participants completed a basic questionnaire and passed a medical examination including a number of neurosensory tests, e.g. the determination of vibration (VPT) and temperature (TPT) perception thresholds as well as a musculoskeletal examination of the neck, shoulders, arms and hands. Results A high prevalence of neurosensory findings (40%) was found among the quarry workers. Both groups, however, showed a low prevalence of vibration white fingers (VWF). Foundry workers showed significantly better sensitivity than quarry workers for all monofilament tests (p ≤ 0.016), TPT warmth in dig 2 (p = 0.048) and 5 dexter (p = 0.008), and in dig 5 sinister (p = 0.005). They also showed a better VPT performance in dig 5 dexter (p = 0.031). Conclusions Despite high vibration exposure, the prevalence of VWF was low. The high prevalence of neurosensory findings among the quarry workers may depend on higher A(8) vibration exposure and higher exposure to high-frequency vibrations. An age-effect and exposure to cold could also be contributing factors. The nervous system seems to be more susceptible to high-frequency vibrations than the vascular system. For neurosensory injuries, the current ISO 5349-1 standard is not applicable.