[An intervention on the coke-oven at the siderurgical plant in Genoa]

To assess the personal exposure of workers employed at the coke-oven in a steel plant in Genoa.

Definition and implementation of a set of measurements for the environmental quality for the determination of PAH and benzene by means of personal sampling. Urinary determination of the metabolic substances given by benzo(a)pyrene and benzene was implemented for workers in different areas. Air pollution control was implemented by the firm during the years 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001. Operative ways and sampling methods were previously discussed by our Operational Unit of Occupational Health and Safety Control (UO PSAL) together with the steel plant and its consultant Clinica del lavoro Luigi Devoto.

First environmental pre-screening of personal exposure to the pollutant, March to April 1997; first campaign of environmental and biological measurements, March 1998; second campaign of measurements, February to October 1999 and March 2001.

The findings showed that among all workers, some groups were more exposed to PAH or benzene: "covers" employees, "change" employees, "loading" employees, "refrigeration and condensation" employees.

Relative shortage of scientific data, particularly with regards to the correlation risk/damage; our office operators were unable to collect parallel samples in order to validate results of environmental and biological analysis because of some local problems; problems in maintaining effectively the corrective actions taken; omissions and lack of standards in the process used for recording exposures. Lack of awareness, on the workers side, on their "right to know" about personal risk. Importance of a technical discussion, promoted by the Genoa Province Administration, intended for the exchange of information, for providing support to decisions, for comparing opinions about the effectiveness of the implemented precautionary measures and for interpreting results. The following interventions were carried out: revision of job procedures, job methods and Risk Assessment Document; training and information about the employees' risk, edited by the firm's Service for Prevention and Protection (SPP) and by a physician indicated by the firm; PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), revision by the SPP.