NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) Recommendations for Control of Occupational Safety and Health Hazards...Foundries

摘要

Foundry workers may be exposed to numerous health hazards, including fumes, dusts, gases, heat, noise, vibration, and nonionizing radiation. Chronic exposure to some of these hazards may result in irreversible respiratory diseases such as silicosis and increased lung cancer. Published scientific data on occupational injuries and illnesses in foundry workers, working conditions, and the engineering controls and work practices used in sand-casting foundries are reviewed in the document. Because of the diversity and complexity of the foundry industry, the document is limited to those facilities that pour molten metal into sand molds. Although die, permanent mold, investment, and other types of casting are not specifically addressed, many of the processes and materials are similar to those used in sand casting; the recommendations in the document may apply to those foundries as well.