Assessment of Thermal Environment and Noise Intensity Levels in an Integrated Iron and Steel Plant of South India
B. Ravichandran1, V. Krishna Murthy2, S. Raghavan1, B. K. Rajan1, and H. R. Rajmohan1
1 Regional Occupational Health Center, Bangalore Medical College Campus, Bangalore, India
2 Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal
Corresponding author: Dr. B. Ravichandran, Research Officer (Industrial Hygiene)
Regional Occupational Health Centre (South)
Bangalore Medical College Campus
Bangalore-560 002, India
Telephones: +91 80 26705037 ; +91 80 26700376
Fax number: +91 80 26700359
E-mail: ravichandran65@yahoo.com
CEJOEM 2006, Vol.12. No.3.: 159–166
Key words:
Thermal stress, noise pollution, occupational hygiene, steel plant, work environment
Abstract:
The study presents thermal stress and noise intensity indices representing physical work environmental stressors
prevalent at different production sections in a steel manufacturing plant. The WBGT values obtained
(33.43 ± 4.81°C) during the molten steel tapping spells compared to non-tapping spells
(29.27 ± 1.41°C) spells in a shift work indicated high-level heat stress. The WBGT values obtained in other
sections were the following; energy optimization furnace – 29.10 ± 1.77°C, continuous casting
machine – 29.80 ± 1.03°C, and sintering plant section – 28.37 ± 0.64°C. Compared to the
prescribed threshold limit value (TLV) of WBGT, high thermal stress was found in blast furnace, energy optimization
furnace, and continuous casting machine sections. The average Leq noise level in blast furnace section
ranged between 78.5 and 103.5 dB(A); at the energy optimization furnace it ranged from 69.3 to 105.2 dB(A).
The noise levels exceeded the prescribed standards in some sections of the steel plant only.
Received: 27 March 2006
Accepted: 5 December 2006
| Back |