Main goals: the thesis work aims to propose measures to reduce the risk associated with the workers’ exposure to harmful to health and safety chemical agents in FRP manufacturing. To do so we made use of the cooperation of a manufacturer that produces fiberglass pleasure boats. However, results can be extended to all production activities of large fiberglass artifacts that use the same kind of processing and technologies. The work focuses on molding FRP departments, where it is expected that the chemical hazard is higher than that in other departments. Framework: work focuses on various stages of progressive study. I) Study of the molding manufacturing process of hulls, decks, ceilings and dunnage, from the naked mold to the pre-finished and ready to be assembled workpiece. At this stage it is possible to classify the study for type of processing and type of workers. The processing categories are the following: hand lay-up; spray-up; gelcoat deposition (hand and spray); contour cutting; pre-finishing; further lower processings. The categories of operators are: resins workers; gelcoat workers; contour cutters; pre-finishing workers; further operators potentially less exposed. Study of the workplace, structures, tools, materials and plants in the company. II) Statistical study of the use of Personal Protective Equipment, required by the company to workers, for each processing category, the ambient temperature varying. Observations are performed over a period of time ranging from April to July, from 06.00 to 22.00. Ambient temperatures measured are minimum of 17°C, maximum of 34°C. PPE concerned are: respiratory protection from airborne volatile substances and dusts, eye protection, hearing protection, hand protection, safety shoes, body protection from chemicals. III) Environmental and personal sampling campaign. For each type of worker the qualitative exposure to major risks chrono-daily tables are draw up, associated with FRP processing. Qualitative exposure values are then replaced with values obtained with PID (photo-ionization detector) samples. Main chemical risk factors for workers’ health and safety are volatile organic compounds (especially styrene) and airborne dusts. Chrono-tables allow us to evaluate the pollutant TWA (Time-Weighted Average) and the STE (Short Term Exposure) concentrations for each substance and compare them with the TLV (Threshold Limit Values) in force in the case study’s country. Expected outcomes: the study phase I is preliminary to the following. It allows us to identify, for each operators category, the risk factors to which each category is most exposed. Styrene and other VOCs are the chemical risk factor on which attention is paid in the continuation of the study for resins and gelcoat workers. Airborne dusts are for contour cutters and pre-finishing workers. The remaining categories of workers may be exposed to both risk factors, even though to a lesser degree. The phase study II about the use of PPE leads to define evolution models in the use of PPE with ambient temperature. These models are closely related to the case study's company and the safety culture that stands in this. To increase the percentage of use of PPE where necessary, it is recommended to adopt Behaviour-Based Safety techniques based on positive reinforcement to safety behaviours and extinction (or in severe cases punishment or penalty) to behaviours that do not reduce (or even increase) risks. The phase study III leads to define what the critical exposure moments are for workers, in particular the processes when resin or gelcoat are sprayed. From this stage, intervention proposals arise measured to reduce risks, primarily the introduction of local ventilation on molds in the cases where the risk of exposure cannot be eliminated at the source by changing the manufacturing process. Combined with phase II, phase III leads to assess whether PPE adopted by the company are adequate to contaminant concentrations and, if they are not, to suggest changes.
Obiettivi: il lavoro di tesi si pone l’obiettivo di proporre interventi atti a ridurre il rischio relativo all’esposizione dei lavoratori ad agenti chimici dannosi per la salute e per la sicurezza nella lavorazione della vetroresina. Per fare questo ci si è avvalsi della collaborazione di un cantiere nautico che produce imbarcazioni da diporto in vetroresina. I risultati sono tuttavia estendibili a tutte le attività produttive di grossi artefatti in vetroresina che utilizzino lo stesso genere di lavorazioni e tecnologie. Il lavoro si è concentrato nei reparti di stampatura della vetroresina, dove ci si aspetta che il rischio chimico sia maggiore rispetto che in altri reparti. Struttura: il lavoro verte su diverse fasi di studio progressive. I) Studio del processo produttivo di stampatura di scafi, coperte, cielini e paglioli, dallo stampo nudo al pezzo prefinito e pronto da assemblare. In questa fase è possibile categorizzare lo studio per tipologia di lavorazione e per tipologia di lavoratori. Le categorie di lavorazione sono le seguenti: resinatura manuale; resinatura taglio-spruzzo; gelcoattatura (manuale e a spruzzo); sbavatura; prefinitura; altre lavorazioni minori. Le categorie di operatori sono: resinatori; gelcoattatori; sbavatori; prefinitori; altri operatori esposti in maniera minore. Studio degli ambienti di lavoro, delle strutture, degli strumenti, dei materiali e degli impianti presenti in azienda. II) Studio statistico dell’utilizzo dei Dispositivi di Protezione Individuale (DPI) prescritti dall’azienda ai lavoratori per ogni categoria di lavorazione al variare della temperatura ambientale. Le osservazioni sono effettuate in un arco di tempo che va da aprile a luglio, dalle ore 06.00 alle ore 22.00. Le temperature ambientali minime rilevate sono di 17°C, quelle massime di 34°C. I DPI in questione sono: protezione delle vie respiratorie da sostanze volatili aerodisperse e polveri, protezione oculare, protezione acustica, protezione delle mani, scarpe antinfortunistiche, protezione del corpo da agenti chimici. III) Campagna di campionamenti ambientali e personali. Per ogni tipologia di lavoratore si stilano delle crono-tabelle giornaliere di esposizione qualitativa ai principali rischi legati al comparto vetroresina. Ai valori di esposizione qualitativa si vanno a sostituire quindi i valori ottenuti con campionamenti PID (foto-ionizzazione). I principali fattori di rischio chimico per la salute e la sicurezza dei lavoratori sono i solventi organici volatili (in particolare stirene) e le polveri aerodisperse. Le crono-tabelle consentono di andare a valutare i TWA (Time-Weighted Average) e gli STE (Short-term exposure) di concentrazione di inquinante per ogni sostanza e confrontarli con i TLV (Threshold Limit Values) in vigore nella nazione del caso studio. Risultati attesi: la I fase dello studio è propedeutica alle seguenti. Consente di individuare, per ogni categoria di operatori, i fattori di rischio a cui essa è maggiormente esposta. Per resinatori e gelcoattatori il fattore di rischio chimico su cui si pone attenzione nel prosieguo dello studio è lo stirene ed altri solventi organici volatili. Per sbavatori e prefinitori sono le polveri aerodisperse. Le restanti categorie di lavoratori possono essere esposte ad entrambi i fattori di rischio, anche se in maniera minore. La II fase di studio dell’utilizzo dei DPI porta a definire dei modelli di andamento dell’utilizzo dei DPI con la temperatura ambientale. Questi modelli sono strettamente legati all’azienda del caso studio ed alla cultura della sicurezza presente in quest’azienda. Per incrementare le percentuali di utilizzo dei DPI laddove necessario, si consiglia di adottare tecniche di Behavior-Based Safety basate su rinforzi positivi a comportamenti di sicurezza ed estinzione (o nei casi più gravi penalità) rispetto ai comportamenti che non riducono (o aumentano) il rischio. La III fase dello studio porta a definire quali sono i momenti di criticità per l’esposizione dei lavoratori, in particolare le lavorazioni in cui si spruzza con pistola resina o gelcoat. Da questa fase nascono proposte di interventi atti a ridurre il rischio, in primis l’introduzione di aspirazione localizzata sugli stampi laddove non si possa eliminare il rischio di esposizione alla radice cambiando il processo produttivo. In combinazione con la II fase, la III fase di studio consente di valutare se i DPI adottati dall’azienda sono adeguati alle concentrazioni di inquinante e, laddove non lo siano, proporre cambiamenti.
Esposizione ad agenti chimici nella produzione nautica : definizione dei fattori di rischio e indagine sperimentale
FUSARO, CLAUDIO
2012/2013
Abstract
Main goals: the thesis work aims to propose measures to reduce the risk associated with the workers’ exposure to harmful to health and safety chemical agents in FRP manufacturing. To do so we made use of the cooperation of a manufacturer that produces fiberglass pleasure boats. However, results can be extended to all production activities of large fiberglass artifacts that use the same kind of processing and technologies. The work focuses on molding FRP departments, where it is expected that the chemical hazard is higher than that in other departments. Framework: work focuses on various stages of progressive study. I) Study of the molding manufacturing process of hulls, decks, ceilings and dunnage, from the naked mold to the pre-finished and ready to be assembled workpiece. At this stage it is possible to classify the study for type of processing and type of workers. The processing categories are the following: hand lay-up; spray-up; gelcoat deposition (hand and spray); contour cutting; pre-finishing; further lower processings. The categories of operators are: resins workers; gelcoat workers; contour cutters; pre-finishing workers; further operators potentially less exposed. Study of the workplace, structures, tools, materials and plants in the company. II) Statistical study of the use of Personal Protective Equipment, required by the company to workers, for each processing category, the ambient temperature varying. Observations are performed over a period of time ranging from April to July, from 06.00 to 22.00. Ambient temperatures measured are minimum of 17°C, maximum of 34°C. PPE concerned are: respiratory protection from airborne volatile substances and dusts, eye protection, hearing protection, hand protection, safety shoes, body protection from chemicals. III) Environmental and personal sampling campaign. For each type of worker the qualitative exposure to major risks chrono-daily tables are draw up, associated with FRP processing. Qualitative exposure values are then replaced with values obtained with PID (photo-ionization detector) samples. Main chemical risk factors for workers’ health and safety are volatile organic compounds (especially styrene) and airborne dusts. Chrono-tables allow us to evaluate the pollutant TWA (Time-Weighted Average) and the STE (Short Term Exposure) concentrations for each substance and compare them with the TLV (Threshold Limit Values) in force in the case study’s country. Expected outcomes: the study phase I is preliminary to the following. It allows us to identify, for each operators category, the risk factors to which each category is most exposed. Styrene and other VOCs are the chemical risk factor on which attention is paid in the continuation of the study for resins and gelcoat workers. Airborne dusts are for contour cutters and pre-finishing workers. The remaining categories of workers may be exposed to both risk factors, even though to a lesser degree. The phase study II about the use of PPE leads to define evolution models in the use of PPE with ambient temperature. These models are closely related to the case study's company and the safety culture that stands in this. To increase the percentage of use of PPE where necessary, it is recommended to adopt Behaviour-Based Safety techniques based on positive reinforcement to safety behaviours and extinction (or in severe cases punishment or penalty) to behaviours that do not reduce (or even increase) risks. The phase study III leads to define what the critical exposure moments are for workers, in particular the processes when resin or gelcoat are sprayed. From this stage, intervention proposals arise measured to reduce risks, primarily the introduction of local ventilation on molds in the cases where the risk of exposure cannot be eliminated at the source by changing the manufacturing process. Combined with phase II, phase III leads to assess whether PPE adopted by the company are adequate to contaminant concentrations and, if they are not, to suggest changes.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/88361