Problems of Occupational Safety and Hygiene at Metallurgical Enterprises: Peculiarities of Ensuring the Functioning of the Ventilation and Air Conditioning System

Abstract

The relevance of the study lies in determining the relationship between the negative factors of metallurgical production and the consequences of such factors for employees. The problem was determined by the need to systematize and logically present the influence of production factors on the human body. Therefore, the purpose of the research was to build a diagram of the relationship between dangerous, harmful factors of the air environment of metallurgical production and their consequences for the implementation of measures to improve occupational safety and hygiene, with the determination of possible ways to increase the efficiency of the ventilation and air conditioning system. An analysis of the specifics and difficulties of ensuring occupational safety and hygiene at the metallurgical enterprise was performed. The list of hazards exposed to workers whose professional activity is related to exposure to dust, elevated temperatures, aggressive environments and other air pollution in the work area has been revealed. The scientific novelty consisted in the construction of a logical-graphic diagram of the influence of dangerous and harmful production factors of the air environment on workers in relation to the development of
appropriate measures to increase the level of safety and occupational hygiene at enterprises of the metallurgical industry. The
practical significance is related to the fact that measures were proposed to increase the efficiency of the ventilation and air
conditioning system. For more stable and comfortable working conditions, the use of axial high-pressure fans with relatively
higher power was proposed. Some of the steps to optimize the system with central air conditioners consisted in providing ad
ditional equipment with air filtration and dehumidification systems, as well as antibacterial agents. A relative reduction in the
noise level can be achieved by equipping the ventilation channels with a layer of noise-absorbing material. At the same time,
an additional reduction in the level of vibrations can be realized thanks to the arrangement of the engine mounts with the fan
to the body of the central air conditioner with rubber or spring vibration isolators. To ensure a higher level of heat and energy
efficiency, it was proposed to introduce an air recovery system.