EXPOSURE HAZARD ANALYSIS IN CEMENT FIBER SHEET MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

Asbestos a collective name given to six type of naturally occurring fiber, well known human carcinogen. Undesirable health effects of asbestos lead to prohibition in most of developed countries but still some developing countries tend to use it in various commercial form. The objective of this study is to estimate the occupational asbestos exposure level and to predict the health risk if the level of exposure exceeds the recommended standard limit. One of the asbestos cement (AC) sheet manufacturing industry is selected to conduct study similar to general cross-sectional study. The main operation of the industry is to manufacture AC sheet in continuous basic that mean production is done round the clock. Both personal sample and static sample were collected in regular operational day by following BIS 11450:2006 as standard procedure for collecting air samples and fiber counting. Location for sampling were selected by considering staff suggestion and by visual observation made around the occupancy area. From twenty-four collected samples twenty-two were sampled, the personal sample taken from wet ball mill area shown 0.0690 fiber per cubic centimetre (f/cc) which was highest among overall collected sample and lowest concentration 0.0195 f/cc was found from personal testing fiber sheet. From the obtained fiber concentration result it shows that asbestos exposure at occupational area were maintained within the permissible limit also no history of asbestos related diseases (ARD) was found among employees which hypothesis the progressive safety system in working environment. Unless until the use of asbestos is completely prohibited, a finest control system should be followed to avoid the occurrence of ARD from both occupational and public zone.