Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (한국산업보건학회지)

Korean Industrial Hygiene Association (한국산업보건학회)
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Exposure status of welding fumes for operators of overhead traveling crane in a shipyard

대형조선소 천장크레인 운전원의 용접흄 노출 실태

  • Lee, Kyeongmin (Occupational Lung Diseases Institute, Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service) ;
  • Kim, Boowook (Occupational Lung Diseases Institute, Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service) ;
  • Kwak, Hyunseok (Occupational Lung Diseases Institute, Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service) ;
  • Ha, Hyunchul (Ventech Corp)
  • 이경민 (근로복지공단 직업성폐질환연구소) ;
  • 김부욱 (근로복지공단 직업성폐질환연구소) ;
  • 곽현석 (근로복지공단 직업성폐질환연구소) ;
  • 하현철 ((주)벤텍)
  • Received : 2015.04.14
  • Accepted : 2015.09.03
  • Published : 2015.09.30
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Abstract

Objectives: Operators of overhead traveling crane in a ship assembly factory perform work to transmit large vessel blocks to an appropriate working process. Hazardous matters such as metal dusts, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone, loud noise and fine particles are generated by variable working activities in the factory. The operators could be exposed to the hazardous matters during the work. In particular, welding fumes comprised of ultra fine particles and heavy metals is extremely hazardous for humans when exposing a pulmonary through respiratory pathway. Occupational lung diseases related to welding fumes are increasingly on an upward tendency. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess properly unknown occupational exposure to the welding fumes among the operators. Methods: This study intended to clearly determine an equivalence check whether or not chemical constituents and composition of the dusts, which existed in the driver's cab, matched up with generally known welding fumes. Furthermore, computational fluid dynamics program(CFD) was used to identify a ventilation assessment in respect of a contamination distribution of welding fumes in the air. The operators were investigated to assess personal exposure levels of welding fumes and respirable particulate. Results: The dust in an operation room were the same constituents and composition as welding fumes. Welding fumes, which caused by the welding in a floor of the factory, arose with an ascending air current up to a roof and then stayed for a long time. They were considered to be exposed to the welding fumes in the operation room. The personal exposure levels of welding fumes and respirable particulate were 0.159(n=8, range=0.073-0.410) $mg/m^3$ and 0.138(n=8, range=0.087-0.178) $mg/m^3$, respectively. They were lower than a threshold limit value level($5mg/m^3$) of welding fumes. Conclusions: These findings indicate that an occupational exposure to welding fumes can exist among the operators. Consequently, we need to be keeping the operators under a constant assessment in the operator process of overhead traveling crane.

Keywords

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