title: An occupational risk survey of a refractory brick company in Ha Noi, Viet Nam.
abstract: Viet Nam has an increasing need for building materials, including refractory bricks. Little is known regarding the occupational hazards incurred in brick manufacturing. To determine the occupational health hazards posed by a refractory brick operation in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, a cross-sectional occupational risk survey was conducted, focusing on respirable dust hazards. It included an industrial hygiene walk-through and gravimetric dust analysis. Noise, heat, lack of head protection, and dust exposure were hazards identified at the brick-manufacturing site. Respiratory protection involved a three-layer cloth mask that had not been tested for efficacy. Silica dust exposure levels exceeded the Vietnamese permissible exposure level by almost fivefold based on gravimetric assessment and estimated silica content. This brick manufacturing site contains significant injury and respiratory illness hazards. Further investigations are necessary to begin to develop occupational safety measures at the site.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, Ha Noi, Viet Nam.
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Hai
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keifer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takaro
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Trung
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barnhart
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000328:Adult; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D008420:Manufactured Materials / Q000009:adverse effects; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D016272:Occupational Health; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D014744:Vietnam
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D012822:Silicon Dioxide