Hazard profile in manufacturing: Determination of risk levels towards enhancing the workplace safety

Abstract

This study focuses on occupational hazards and the determination of risk levels derived from them. Indoor climate, noise, and dust are examined. An approach with numerical criteria is offered to assess these occupational hazards in manufacturing using a simple/flexible risk assessment method. Practical examples and the results of measurements of occupational hazards in five industries (mechanical, printing, wood, plastic and clothing industries) in Estonia are presented. Noise, as the most obvious health hazard, is analysed in depth, and the risk for noise‐induced hearing loss is estimated. The overall purpose of the paper is to draw attention to the importance of measurements of occupational hazards in industry and to act as a reminder of a number of issues of practical relevance to effective workplace risk assessment from which employees, employers, occupational hygienists and physicians as well as authorities can benefit today and in the future

Santrauka

Analizuojami profesiniai pavojai, kuriems gresiant būtina nustatyti rizikos lygi. Tirtas darbo aplinkos mikroklimatas, apšvieta, triukšmas ir dulketumo lygis. Profesiniams pavojams gamyboje ivertinti siūlomas paprastas ir lankstus rizikos vertinimo metodas, pagristas skaitiniais kriterijais. Pateikiami penkiu Estijos pramones šaku (mašinu apdirbimo, spaudos, medienos, plastmases ir tekstiles) tyrimo šiuo požiūriu rezultatai ir praktiniai pavyzdžiai.

Kaip akivaizdžiausias pavojus sveikatai plačiai analizuojamas triukšmas, ivertinama klausos praradimo rizika. Straipsnio tikslas ‐ atkreipti demesi, kaip svarbu pramoneje nustatyti profesine rizika ir priminti apie kelis svarbius praktinius aspek‐tus, kad darbo rizikos vertinimas būtu efektyvus ir padetu darbuotojams, darbdaviams, darbo vietos higienos specialis‐tams, gydytojams bei sprendimu priemejams.

Keywords:

• legal regulations for occupational safety and health
• labour conditions
• work environment
• occupational hazards
• risk assessment
• risk levels

Reikšminiai žodžiai:

• teisinis profesinio saugumo ir sveikatingumo reguliavimas
• laboratorines salygos
• darbo aplinka
• profesine rizika
• rizikos vertinimas
• rizikos lygiai

Keywords: