Occupational and Health Safety - Essay Example

Occupational and health safety Customer’s Name: Customer’s Course: Tutor’s Name: Abstract This essay sets out to explore the processes that take place in the copper mining industry. In exploring the processes their will be a step by step guide on the processes that are involved in the mining of copper until the finished product is obtained. In each steps their will there will be a clear illustration of what activities are carried out and any chemical that are used. The report also aims at providing an existing literature review on the health hazards facing the people working in the mine. The literature review section will also provide information on what other authors have said in regard to copper mining. The hazards that mainly affect the workers working in the mines will be categorized in various categories such as physical hazards, ergonomics, and biological hazards, chemical hazards. In each category there will be a clear and concise outline on the hazards that are under that category. In the last section the essay will focus mainly on how the hazards will be measured and how one would sample, what instrument to use in the measurement of the hazard and the number of samples to be used so as to ensure viability and validity of the data generated. Introduction Copper is an extensively used mineral all over the world. Typically it is used to generate electrical conductors, machines, tubes and copper alloys. The procedure of mining copper is very harmful this is mostly attributed to the chemicals used, extreme noise spawned when drilling the copper, and great and extreme temperature. Copper minerals and ores occur in two major forms namely deposited rocks and igneous rocks. The procedure of mining copper ores differs greatly depending on the category of ore and the anticipated purity of the end product. Some steps in the processing of copper are carried out at the site whereas others are carried out at detached facilities. The methods are: the traditional method this includes methods such as underground and open pit and the other method is leaching. Ores are used with a number of chemical for successful processing and refining of copper ore. There exist a common steps in which the process is done it includes: mining, grinding and concentrating, roasting and smelting, conversion, anode casting and electro- refining. The first step is copper mining. It involves the extraction of the mineral from the ground this is either done using open pit or underground method of mining by drilling and slating the ores with explosives. The most frequently used method is the traditional mining method which is done by dropping a vertical tube into the earth to a suitable depth and lashing straight tunnels into the ore. The other method is leaching which is done by treating the ores with sulphuric acid. The sulphuric acid dribbles down the ore melting copper so as to form copper sulphate. The melted copper is then convalesced by electrolytic refining. The second step is grinding and concentration. It is carried out by crushing the ore and grounding it into powder form the powder is then enriched. The powdered ore is then combines with special paraffin to make the copper water repellant. The copper is then added into a pool containing a foaming which produces a bubble bath. When spurts of air are enforced up through the bath, the repellent copper minerals are chosen up by the bubbles of foam. The minerals float to the top forming foam. The unwanted rock falls settles at the bottom and are detached, the froth is flicked off the surface and augmented ore is taken to the roasting stage. The mixture containing paraffin, water and foaming agent is salvaged. The third stage is roasting and smelting; the chemical reactions start at this stage. The chemical transform the copper ore into copper metal. The CuFeS2 are reformed to copper oxide and sulphur is detached as sulphur dioxide this is done by heating the strenuous ore which was obtained from the froth floatation (Donoghue, Sincilar & Bates, 2000).The froth is heating in temperatures between 500 and 700 degree Celsius. In the smelting stage the calcine is heated above 1200 degree c with fluxes. The calcine liquefies and then a reaction takes place between it and the fluxes. Some impurities which forms a slag and floats at the top of the liquid is them removed. The liquid obtained is a combination ofcopper sulphide and iron sulphides and it is commonly referred to as matte. The liquefied matte is crumbled so as to generate blister copper in a converter. The blister copper manufactured is 99 % of pure copper. The last stage in the processing of copper is anode casting and electro refining. The blister copper is then sanitized further using electrolysis for form a more refined copper. The electrolytic purifying of copper generates the high quality copper which is also more pure than the one generated in the previous stage. This purified copper is the one that is needed in the modern day world. At this stage the copper particles liquefy from the contaminated anode to form copper ions, the copper ions moves towards the cathodes where they are replaced back as pure copper atoms. The process of mining of copper is best illustrated in the flow chart below. Workers working in the mining industry face a number of hazards. The table below shows the hazard associated with mining of copper. Drilling (horizontal, slant and directional) Hazards Specify the hazard What does it affect in the body TWA (mg/m³) STEL (mg/m³) Vapor Ethylene Glycol Exposure to ethylene glycol via inhalation or skin contact can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. It is a human respiratory toxicant 52 104 Liquid Chemicals such as sulphuric acid This chemical can affect the skin and also the blood stream when it gets absorbed into the body. 1 3 Fume Copper mist Liver and kidney diseases 1 - Noise Hand Drill noise Hearing loss - - Heat Hot metal (drill) Burned skin - - The first hazard is ethylene glycol. Ethylene can irritate the eyes, nose and skin when inhaled into the body and it is human respiratory toxicant. Another hazard common in the mining of copper is sulphuric acid; this chemical affects the skin and also the blood stream when absorbed into the body. The copper mist has attributed to a major causative agent for liver and kidney diseases. The noise generated from hand drilling can cause hearing loss for the people working with it (Harris, 1979). Hot metal drill can cause burned skin to the employee who is operating it. Literature review Mining is a prehistoric livelihood and is long documented as being laborious and accountable to injury and disease which occurs to the people practicing or working on the mines. The hazards of mining have been well documented and plenty of literature exists in regard to this topic. There is a wide variety of non-injury hazardous exposures which are allied with copper mining. The hazards related to mining can be classified into various categories (Bailey, 2001). The first category is the physical hazards; hazards which are classified in this category include extreme noise, ionizing radiation, and vibration, ultraviolent radiation is comes from the sun (Elwood, 1992). The second category is the chemical hazards which include the hazards related to mine dust, diesel exhaust vapors and welding vapors (Metz, 2001).). The third category is the biological hazards this category is less prevalent and usually results to hygiene problem and incompetently cleaning of the freezing towers. The fourth hazard is the ergonomics hazards; they are prevalent, they are as a result of elongated poor positions, physical handling of weighty tools or other loads, shift work and weariness (Metz, 2002). The last category is the Psychological stressors they include hazards such as isolated work for lengthy periods of time, extensive shifts and acquaintance to serious injury occurrences have been allied with drug and alcohol misuse and stress allied situations. Loud noise is an intrinsic feature of all segments of the mining industry. The noise mostly arises from various sources, such as large equipment, power apparatuses, high energy influences and the movement of large quantities of the soil (Bise, 2001). The chief adverse health consequence linked to noise is noise prompted hearing loss, though hypertension is also accompanied with the acquaintance to extreme noise. Elongated acquaintance to noise which is beyond 85db (A) is anticipated to result in major hearing loss (NOISH, 1996). Ultraviolent radiation is acknowledged to escalate the risk of developing skin cancer and is hypothetically a vital skin cancer factor and is mostly common in workers working above the ground. Ultraviolent radiation can also lead to eye disease. Acquaintance to ionizing radiation upsurges the danger of developing various kinds of cancer. This exposure is inevitable for workers working with or close to the radioactive minerals (Kallenberg, 1995). Ill health rising from acquaintance to updraft pressure at work can be due to bodily challenging toils in hot concealed situations and from toils on the surface in hot and extreme temperatures (Grayson & Watzam 2002). A variety of conditions can emerge; these conditions include heat cramps and fatal heat stroke. According to some Australian studies heat-related illness in concealed above the ground metalliferous mines and at periods in high metabolic demand in underground mines. A heat correlated skin disorder miliaria rubra is a common illness amongst copper miners occupied in hot conditions in the mining industry (Worker health chart book, 2000). Vibration is another common exposure to copper miners. Acquaintance to vibration mainly occurs through vehicle and power tools. The monotonous vibration and related recurrent small movement are an acknowledged risk factor for numerous musculosketal conditions, with vehicle vibration principally related with injuries in the back and the neck, and the power tools commonly linked with ailments of the upper limb (Beranek, 1971). Vibration, principally from trucks seems to be substantial source of ill health amongst the workers (The minerals council of Australia, 2002).Employees employed in the mines, whether above or below the ground are hypothetically exposed to silica throughout the mining work. Silica has been renowned to be the major causative agent of silicosis and lung cancer to the workers working at the mines (Holman, 1947). Interaction with sulphuric acid can cause injuries, death and blindness among the workers who are directly in contact with the acid. Workers working at the mines are also disposed to respiratory diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. Synthetic mineral fibers such as Ceramic fibers, glass wool and rock wools are normally used for lining thus miners are possibly exposed to them. Synthetic mineral fibers are perhaps cancer-causing to human’s beings. Lung cancer and mesothelioma are together alleged of being allied to acquaintance to synthetic minerals fibers. Occupational asthma is a complaint characterized by respiratory hyper-responsiveness or adjustable airflow restraint linked to workplace acquaintances. There exists a wide range of the causes of occupational asthma, and most of them are existent in the mining industry thus occupational asthma is evident in the copper mining industries (Wyndham, 1965). Miners have potentially substantial acquaintance to diesel exhaust fumes, mainly from vehicles been used in the industry the vehicle exhaust fumes affect both open cut and underground copper miners, mainly the underground miners(Boffetta et al, 1989). Lung cancer and bladder cancer are the two foremost tumors connected with a high level contact to diesel exhaust fumes. Welding fumes are categorized a probably being hazardous to human beings by causing diseases such as Lung cancer. Welding fumes has also been known to cause fibrotic lung ailment (Boffetta & Silverman, 2001). Occupational contact dermatitis is termed as an ailment of the skin subsequent resulting from acquaintance to constituents that come into contact with the workers skin. The hands are the most regularly affected part of the body, but the effect can occur to any part that a humans body that comes into contact with the contributory constituent. The problem predominantly occurs on the feet of the workers due to the long hours spent wearing the boots and in most times in moist conditions. Occupational dermatitis is repeatedly persistent and hard to treat. Mining work in most cases comprises of exposure to wide variety of constituents and circumstances that bring about or influence the speedy development of dermatitis. According to a study which was done by the United States, about 85% of all cases acknowledged as a result of the following six sources - mine dust, plants, trees and vegetation; coal and petroleum products and miscellaneous exposures (Bhatia et al, 1998). The evaluation recommended that dermatitis is problematic in all mining segments, with the copper mining sector not been left behind. There are a variety of additional hazardous constituents to which miners are possibly exposed to. These include diluters, acids and fuels. There are also the ergonomic hazards linked with working in the mines. Mining workers are usually exposed to a variety of body stressors in most of their activities in the mining of copper. Underground miners to be precise are often expected to carry out duties in awkward positions and to labor with their hands above their heads; these postures are known to be accompanied by an augmented risk of developing musculosketal disorders. Much of the exposure is inevitable without suitable automation in the industry, thus there is a need to emphasize the need for appropriate control measures so as to lessen the probability and degree of any musculosketal ailments (Kissel & Jay, 2001). Regular kneeling and crouching are probably related with lifting, in the mining industry they have been linked to osteoarthritis of the knee. The moving of weighty masses and generally by underground miners is completed using obstinate postures. These conditions incline to the rate of back ailments such as cervical nerve root irritation, lumbar disc protrusion, and lumbar and non-specific backbone pain. Weariness is an ailment in itself and also disposes to the rate of physical and mental sicknesses as well as aggregating the risk of injury interrelated to work. The changeover to long shifts and lengthy periods of unremitting work in some parts of the mining industry is likely to have the frequency of weariness and related physical and mental ailments in the mining industry. Mental disorders can rise in the mining industry due to work organization issues, acquaintance to the thoughtful injury of the worker or contemporaries, extended standing hours, shift work and lengthy stretches, working away from ones family and friends(National Institute for Occupational Safety And Health, 1998). Methods In measuring the health hazards a number of tools and methods will be used. The measuring of the hazards will help in determine the number of workers who are affected by a particular health hazard and the extent of the health issue. This will enable putting in place appropriate measures to reduce the health hazards that are prevalent in the mining industry. In measuring stressors an ASSSET will be used. This is an authenticated and standardized stress-auditing gadget. ASSET integrates contemporary workplace stressors into stressors-strain model of stress, gauging the supposed danger of each stressor and any strain effects in the form of mental strain and pressure interrelated ill-health. Though a stratified sample would be used, the sampling would be done to all workers. In this way the outcomes can be effortlessly generalized to the whole populace and that the sample size was adequate to guarantee that all the outcomes were illustrative of all of the workers in the mining industry. For the cases of confidence ASSET will be distributed to each employee personally through his postal address and the workers will be given pre-paid envelopes for them to mail back their response. ASSET was selected because it is comprehensive stress measurement tool and has evident benefits for both study and organizational practice adjacent to the experience of work-related stress. ASSET is a costly tool and thus a well stipulated budget will be needed and training on how to use the gadget. Sound level meter will be used in measuring the amount of noise in the mines. In measuring the noise in the mines the gadgets used ought to comply with the stipulations of sound level meters. The measurement ought to be done outdoors and within the boundary of the affected sites (Taylor, 1970). All measurements are made with the sound level meter set to frequency weighting and time weighting. A sound level meter is an appropriate tool in measuring the occupational noise in the mines since it measures noise of varying levels. According to NOISH noise with levels above 80 dba ought to b measured with a noise dosimeter and it has proved to be practicable. The sample used consisted of all the workers who work directly with the equipment or who at one time of their working they hear the noise. The use of this sample will ensure that results produced are more accurate since a larger number of the employees are sample and that the information generated is correct since the group to be sampled are directly affected by the noise. Another benefit of using a large sample size is the sampling error component is detached since everybody view is well-thought-out in the generation of the final results. (NOISH, 1996) The instrument used in measuring the vibration in the mines is the triaxial vibration sensor which is connected to a vibration meter and data logger and them to a computer so as to the computer can download the data (Bruel & kjaer, 1989).). The rudimentary evaluation method to be used is the R.M.S and the supplementary assessment method known as VDV is also used in determining the vibration which occurs in the mine. The sample used is the all the temporary employees working in the mines. The VDV will be used to gauging road roughness and associates well with the driver’s personal view of the road roughness (Koo Et el. 2002). The sample used was comprised of workers who work in areas which are disposed to vibration and drivers who use the cars in the industry. By the use of this sample size the information obtained is perfect since the people giving the opinions are the one who are directly in contact with the machines which can the vibration hence a higher level of accuracy. The person using the triaxial vibration sensor should have the knowledge of how to use it and he should also be conversant with computer since the date need to be downloaded afterwards. NIOSH has resolute that diesel exhaust is a possible human carcinogen, based on a mixture of the elements, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity statistics (NIOSH, 2000). Adverse exposures to diesel exhaust has been attributed to health hazards such as eye and nose irritation, headaches, nausea, and asthma.RCD has been used as a measure of the exposure of miners to diesel. The RCD is used to provide measurement of whole diesel particulate (Cantrell & Watts, 1997).). The population t be sampled is the whole organization since everyone at one tie comes into contact with the diesel exhaust and also the people living around the mine will be assessed. This will enhance the accurateness of the results since all the people involved will be examined thus the generation of accurate figures. The limitation encountered is that the population size is too large and thus large amount of resources will be used when sampling. The advantage associated with sampling large sample size in reference to effects of diesel l exhaust is that all views of the people who are affected will be consider hence accurateness of the data. The RCD should be used in the areas where the measurements need to be carried out. References Bailey, K. (2001). Industrial Hygiene in Mining. Mine Health and Safety Management. Edited by Michael Karmis. Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., Little, Co, Pp 263-273 Beranek, I. (1971). Noise and Vibration Control. New York, McGraw-hill. Bhatia, R., et al. (1998). Diesel Exhaust Exposure and Lung Cancer. Epidemiology. 9(1): 85-91. Bise, J. (2001). Noise. Mine Health and Safety Management. Edited by Michael karmis. Society for mining, metallurgy, and exploration, inc., little, Co, 297-306 Boffetta, P. & Silverman, D. (2001). A Meta-Analysis of Bladder Cancer and Diesel Exhaust Exposure. Epidemiology. 12(1): 125-130. Boffetta, P., et al. (1989). Diesel Exhaust Exposure and Lung Cancer Risk. Exp. Pathol. 37: 32-38. Bruel & kjaer (1989). Acoustic Noise measurement. 4th edition Cantrell, B.& Watts, W. (1997). Diesel Exhaust Aerosol: Review of Occupational Exposure. Appl. 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Safety and Health Performance Report of the Australian Mineral Industry 2001-2002. Dickson, ACT: The Mineral Council of Australia. Worker health chart book, (2000) Center for diseases control and prevention, 200 fatal illnesses. WYNDHAM, H. (1965). A survey of the Causal Factors in Heat Stroke and of their Prevention in the Gold Mining Industry. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. Vol. 66: 125 – 155. Journal of the South African Institute and Metallurgy Read More