Assessment of Heat Stress and Noise Intensity Level in Workplace Area of the Iron Foundry

Somnath Sen; B Ravichandran; A Manju; M Palanivel; S Deepa

doi:10.3759/joise.v1i2.3490

Abstract

The aims of this study were to measure the workplace heat stress and noise intensity levels in different sections of the foundries. The study was carried out in a small industrial city of southern peninsular of India, known for cluster of foundry establishments. The heat and noise level were measured in melting, fettling, gas cutting, heat treatment furnace, and administrative sections measuring the dry bulb temperature(TDB °C), wet bulb temperature (TWB °C), globe temperature(TG °C), wet bulb globe temperature(WBGT °C), and the relative humidity(RH%) at the work places. The noise level measurements were also carried out using portable integrated sound level meter. Extremely high levels of WBGT index was found in gas cutting section with an average of 33.73 °C followed by 29.68 °C in melting unit. The mean WBGT mean values obtained in other sections were, 28.37 °C in heat treatment, 28.25 °C in fettling and 25.84 °C in administrative sections respectively. The mean WBGT index levels are significantly higher (p < 0.05) in gas cutting, melting, heat treatment and fettling sections compared to the administrative section. The prescribed standard threshold limit value (TLV) of WBGT level was high in gas cutting, melting, heat treatment and fettling units. The values of equivalent noise levels were under control as per OSHA guidelines in all the process sections. The heat and noise may increase the health risk of worker with reduce the efficiency and consequently affect the production of the unit. The recommendations should be taken as indicative of stress areas and workers should be under constant medical supervision.