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Evaluation of occupational hazards in foundries
Adel M Zakaria1, Kamal H Noweir, Gamal El-Maghrabi
1Occupational Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University. zakaria1959@yahoo.com
The Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association
|August 12, 2006
Summary
Foundry workers face significant occupational hazards, including excessive dust, silica, CO, noise, and heat. Transportation and lifting injuries are most common, particularly affecting workers aged 31-40.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Industrial Hygiene
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Foundry work environments present numerous simultaneous chemical, physical, and mechanical hazards.
- Exposure to these hazards can lead to significant injuries among foundry workers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate occupational hazards and injury patterns in four Egyptian foundries.
- To assess levels of dust, free silica, lead, gases (NO2, SO2, CO), noise, and heat stress.
- To analyze injury data over a three-year period (1998-2000).
Main Methods:
- Environmental monitoring for dust, silica, lead, gases, noise, and heat stress.
- Analysis of occupational injury data from 1998 to 2000.
- Statistical analysis to identify significant injury trends and causes.
Main Results:
- Exceedances of threshold limit values for total dust, respirable dust, free silica, carbon monoxide (CO), noise, and heat stress were identified in various operations and companies.
- The 31-40 age group experienced the highest injury incidence rate.
- Lower and upper extremities were most frequently injured, with transportation and lifting being the primary cause.
Conclusions:
- Egyptian foundries exhibit significant occupational hazards exceeding permissible exposure limits.
- Ramsis Company showed the highest average incidence rates for injuries.
- Interventions are needed to mitigate risks and improve worker safety in these industrial settings.
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