[Working environment hazards in production of building fittings and metal accessories].
BACKGROUND
This paper presents an analysis of chemical and physical hazards occurring at workposts of plants involved in the production of building fittings and metal accessories. The analysis is based on the data obtained from voivodeship (province) sanitary and epidemiological stations as well as on the results of initial measurements of respirable and total dust concentrations and noise levels at workposts of the six selected plants.


METHODS
Methods described in standards: PN-91/Z-04030/05, PN-91/Z-04030/06 and PN-91/Z-04018/04 were applied for the determination of dusts containing free crystalline silica. Air samples were collected according to the principles of personal dosimetry, and measurements of noise were taken according to PN-N-1307:1994.


CONCLUSIONS
Very small enterprises of no more than 10 employees (39.3%) and small enterprises with 10 to 49 employees (42.6%) predominate among plants that produce building fittings and metal accessories. Among physical hazards, noise occupies a particular place in 96.7% of plants. In 65.4% of plants, dusts containing free crystalline silica were suspended in the ambient air. Exposure to chemical hazards was observed in 60.7% of plants. Metals and their compounds were found to be the most harmful chemical factors in the processes of founding and mechanical working of elements of building fittings and metal accessories.
Gaweda
Ewa
E
Zakładu Zagrozeń Chemicznych i Pyłowych Centralnego Instytutu Ochrony Pracy--Państwowego Instytutu Badawczego w Warszawie. ewgaw@ciop.pl
Kondej
Dorota
D
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis; D004391:Dust; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D006801:Humans; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012015:Reference Standards; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D001194:Asbestos; D012822:Silicon Dioxide