In glass and ceramic industries, mineral silicates are widely used.
During transportation, crushing, grinding, classifying, screening and
mixing operations, a lot of fine dust is released in the atmosphere
in absence of suitable control. Some manufacturing operations such
as crushing and grinding make intolerable noise. During firing,
baking or fusion of materials in kilns or smelting furnaces at temperature
averaging 1000° to 1700°C, excessive heat is generated at the
working place. Due to inhalation of a significant amount of fine dust,
and constant exposition to intense sound and thermal stresses over a
long period, several problems of health hazard arise. For identifying
these problems and taking preventive and control measures against
dust, noise and heat stresses, the working environment must be evaluated.
The present article enumerates the sources of pollution, nature of
pollutants, their effects, as well as standards for permissible limits of
pollutants in the occupational environment, and suggests some preventive
measures. |