Hazards in steel industry are often more and even more severe than those of working in general manual labor, making this one of the more dangerous industries. Depending on the type of work a steel worker performs, steel manufacture comes with a wide range of risks. Workers in the steel industry often work with heavy and dangerous equipment, handle toxic chemicals, suffer burns, pinning and crushing injuries, suffer hearing loss, experience carpal tunnel syndrome, or even suffer explosions.
Acknowledging the dangers and preparation is the first step to preventing such accidents. In this article, we will discuss the importance of dangers present at steel plants and learn about the main elements and situations that lead to such hazards in steel industry.
Accident:
In April 2007, an industrial disaster occurred in Liaoning, China in Qinghe District, Tieling. A ladle transporting molten steel separated from an overhead rail and killed 32 people and injured six at this steel corporation plant. China’s investigation found that the plant lacked many major safety features, in violation of regulations, with inappropriate use of substandard equipment as the primary cause of the accident.
There Are 6 Main Hazards in steel industry
Work in steel mills or at construction sites involves a wide range of risks that steel workers must deal with every day. More than 27 hazards contribute to injuries and accidents in the iron and steel industry, according to the International Labour Organization’s Code of Practice for Safety and Health in the Iron and Steel Industry. Here we address the 6 biggest hazards in steel industry:
1. Falls:
It is often necessary to work \at significant heights, on uneven ground and in restricted areas when working with steel. It therefore makes perfect sense that steel workers worldwide experience the highest number of injuries due to slips, trips, and falls.
2. Noise:
It’s hard to find a quiet environment at steel mills and construction sites. Steel workers are prone to experience hearing loss as one of the ongoing present hazards in steel industry, especially if appropriate ear protection isn’t used. A constant barrage of harsh noise also drains the brain’s resources, resulting in fatigue and anxiety. Acoustic shock, in which a single loud noise causes a hearing loss, is another type of hearing loss. People can experience a variety of symptoms due to suddenness and volume of certain noises, including:
Having headaches
Nausea
Pain in the ear
Hearing ringing
Hypersensitivity to sound
Neck, jaw, and shoulder pain
Stress/Anxiety
People’s social and professional lives can be affected by these symptoms, which can be very uncomfortable. Acoustic shock does not have a cure, and symptoms can be long-lasting.
3. Heat:
Essentially, steel making involves high temperatures, which bring along some of the most dangerous hazards in steel industry. Especially during the hot summer months, steel workers may suffer from heat stress. Temperatures in the summer reach 43 0 degrees Celsius due to the hot & humid climate. At hot rolling areas, casting platforms, and in proximity to furnaces, the steel industry experiences high levels of heat stress. Heat illness occurs at higher WBGT levels, with a higher level of risk for heavier physical work when WBGT levels exceed 30 0 C. If heat stress is not addressed in the workplace, it may result in heat related illnesses such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting, or a severe form of heat stroke that can be fatal if left untreated.
4. Vibration:
On a daily basis, steel workers work with power tools and heavy machinery. When exposed to vibrations from this equipment for an extended period of time, nerve damage can develop, particularly in the hands. Chronic pain and decreased mobility are also among common hazards in steel industry as result of the wearing down of tendons and ligaments. Together, these effects are known as Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), which is a disease that can affect tendons, muscles, bones, and joints, as well as affect the nervous system with the following symptoms:
Cold exposure can cause one or more fingers to blanch (whiten)
An absence of light touch
The fingers feel tingly and lose sensation
Intermittent white finger attacks are accompanied by pain and cold sensations
Reduced mobility and chronic pain from bone cysts present in fingers, wrists, and tendons.
Grip strength is lost
5. Toxins:
Every worker in the steel industry can be exposed to airborne toxins and hazardous chemicals. Blindness, chemical burns, and lung damage, among other factors, can be the results of wrong treatment to toxin hazards in steel industry. As a result of exposure to these toxins for years and decades, cancer and lung diseases can also happen. In steel industry, watch out for the following toxic chemicals:
Benzene: There is evidence that benzene causes leukemia cancer. The effects of benzene on the nervous system can include unconsciousness, headaches, and confusion when people are exposed to high levels short-term. The skin and eyes may also be aggravated.
Asbestos: Mesothelioma, a type of cancer that develops in the lungs, heart, and stomach lining, is the primary threat linked to asbestos exposure.
Silica: The presence of silica can result in serious health conditions, such as silicosis, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
6. Heavy Lifting:
Work in the steel industry is extremely physically challenging, which raises the risk of injury. Having to lift repeatedly and handle other stressors increases risk. Workers’ bodies become weaker every day when they carry out difficult tasks. In later stages, the injury may be caused by neck, shoulder, knee and back injuries. Injuries resulting in spinal cord damage can include crashes, scaffold collapses, steel column collapses, and other machinery hazards in steel industry. Often, such injuries result in paralysis of the body.
Conclusion Hazards are a common feature of the iron and steel industry. A well-designed approach, consistent efforts, and continuous innovation are necessary to ensure safety of operations and a healthy environment. The unions, workers, and managers must all cooperate throughout the process. We all know that in the steel industry, the risks of getting injured cannot be completely eliminated. However, it is possible to minimize those risks and make your workplace safer. Start improving your workplace safety today, by learning all about dangerous situations and all the possible hazards in steel industry.
Source: https://veunex.com/6-major-groups-of-hazards-in-steel-industry/
Yorumlar