Occupational health and safety in flour Mills: A research and risk assessment

Yıl 2024, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2, 446 - 459, 27.06.2024

Okan Özbakır

https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2024.2.18

Öz

Flour mills are one of the workplaces with occupational health hazards due to irregular workplaces and environments where insufficient attention is paid to workers’ safety. In this context, considering the extent of difficulties faced by workers in flour mills, hazards and risks that could affect the health and occupational safety of workers were investigated in a sample of flour mills in Iğdır province. The data obtained as a result of the research was ranked using the matrix method. The study identified 68 specific risks, of which 38% were identified as unacceptable risks requiring immediate action and 33% as risks requiring medium-term action. The results show that among the factors negatively affecting the health of workers, the respiratory hazard level of wheat dust with RS:15 (l:3, s:5) and the explosion hazard with RS:20 (l:4, s:5) occupy significant positions. Despite the emphasis on the importance of hygiene standards, serious deficiencies were identified, such as RS:20, which is considered high risk. In addition, the presence of many machines, such as conveyors, silos, compressors and rollers, was found to increase the risks on the system in the range of RS:20-25, which could lead to serious injury or death. Bacteria and microorganisms, such as RS:16-18, proliferate due to the low availability of personal hygiene facilities in the factory. For each identified risk, the necessary control measures are proposed and it is emphasized that protective measures should also be taken even after the implementation of these measures. Among the factors that negatively affect the health of workers in flour mills are the lack of use of personal protective equipment, working in dirty conditions, the presence of elements that can cause respiratory problems, as well as injuries related to carrying heavy loads on slippery floors and using unprotected machinery.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Flour mill, Occupational health and safety, Hazard, Flour dust, Hazards

Kaynakça

• Ajeel, N. A. H and Al-Yassen, A. K (2007). Work related allergic disorders among flour mill workers. The Medical Journal of Basrah University (MJBU). 25(1):29-32.
• Ali, D. M., & Mohamed, R. H. (2023) Effect of Educational Program on Occupational Health and Safety Competencies Among Flour Mill Workers. Journal of Nursing and Health Science, 3(2), 38-44. DOI: 10.9790/1959-1203023844
• Babel, S., & Rajvanshi, R. (2013). Occupational health hazards faced by the flour mill workers. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 21, 165-169.
• Bakx, G. C., & Nyce, J. M. (2017). Risk and safety in large-scale socio-technological (military) systems: a literature review. Journal of Risk Research, 20(4), 463-481. https://doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2015.1071867
• Berberoğlu, U., Eskiocak, M., Ekuklu, G., & Saltık, A. (2002). Tam Gün İşyeri Hekimi Çalışan Bir İşletmede İşçi Sağlığı ve İş Güvenliği Hizmetleri Yönetim Sürecinin Değerlendirilmesi. Ttb Mesleki Sağlık ve Güvenlik Dergisi, (in Turkish),3(9), 31-35.
• BEY, (2018). Basınçlı Ekipmanlar Yönetmeliği, (in Turkish) Retrieved in January, 24, 2023 from https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr
• BYKHY, (2007). Binaların yangından korunması hakkında yönetmelik. (in Turkish), Retrieved in January, 20, 2023 from https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr
• Çalış, S., & Büyükakıncı, B. Y. (2021). Türkiye’nin iş kazaları açısından durumu: ILOSTAT ve SGK verileri karşılaştırması. Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, (in Turkish), 23(2), 574-585. https://doi.org/10.32709/akusosbil.623803
• ÇGİRKDY, (2012). Çalışanların Gürültü İle İlgili Risklerden Korunmalarına Dair Yönetmelik, (in Turkish), Retrieved in January, 22, 2023 from https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr
• ÇPOTKHY, (2013). Çalışanların Patlayıcı Ortamların Tehlikelerinden Korunması Hakkında Yönetmelik, (in Turkish), Retrieved in January, 25, 2023 from https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr
• El Karim, M. A. A., El Rab, M. O. G., Omer, A. A. A., & El Haimi, Y. A. (1986). Respiratory and allergic disorders in workers exposed to grain and flour dusts. Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal, 41(5), 297-301.
• Eser, A. (2015). Maden işlerinde solunum koruyucu donanımlar. Maden İşletmelerinde İşçi Sağlığı ve İş Güvenliği Sempozyumu, (in Turkish), 21-22.
• ETTY, (2001) Elektrik Tesislerinde Topraklamalar Yönetmeliği, (in Turkish), Retrieved in January, 22, 2023 from https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr
• Gul, M., & Ak, M. F. (2018). A comparative outline for quantifying risk ratings in occupational health and safety risk assessment. Journal of cleaner production, 196, 653-664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.06.106
• Horozoğlu, K. (2017). İş kazalarının iş sağlığı ve güvenliği açısından analizi. Karabük Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, (in Turkish), 8(2), 265-281.
• İBEASGÖİY, (2013). İş yeri Bina ve Eklentilerinde Alınacak Sağlık ve Güvenlik Önlemlerine İlişkin Yönetmelik, (in Turkish), Retrieved in January, 12, 2023 from https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr
• İHÖTAHY, (2023). İş Hijyeni Ölçüm, Test ve Analizleri Hakkında Yönetmelik, (in Turkish), Retrieved in January, 27, 2023 from https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr
• İş Kanunu (2023) İş Kanunu, (in Turkish), Retrieved in January, 21, 2023 from https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr
• Kakooei, H. and Marioryad, H. (2005). Exposure to Inhalable Flour Dust and Respiratory Symptoms of Workers in a Flour Mill in Iran. Iranian Journal of Environmental Health Science & Engineering. 2 (1):50-55.
• Karadağ, Ö. K. (2001). Kaynak İşlerinde İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği. TTB Mesleki Sağlık ve Güvenlik Dergisi, (in Turkish), 2(8), 27-32.
• Korshunov, G. I., Kabanov, E. I., & Cehlar, M. (2020). Occupational Risk Management In a Mining Enterprise With the Aid of an Improved Matrix Method for Risk Assessment. Acta Montanistica Slovaca, 25(3). https://doi.org/10.46544/AMS.v25i3.3
• Lindholm, M., Rantala, M., & Tappura, S. (2022). Development needs for risk assessment–A case study of five Finnish companies. Safety Management and Human Factors, Vol. 64, 2022, 177–183 https://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1002643
• Lyon, B. K., & Hollcroft, B. (2012). Risk Assessments. Professional Safety, 57(12), 28-34.
• MEY, (2009). Makina Emniyeti Yönetmeliği, (in Turkish), Retrieved in January, 22, 2023 from https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr
• Mutlu, M., & Çabuk, A. (2021). Türkiye’de Elektrik Kazalarında Kök Neden Analizi. İSG Akademik, (in Turkish), 3(1), 15-24.
• Oliveira, M. D., Lopes, D. F., & Bana e Costa, C. A. (2018). Improving occupational health and safety risk evaluation through decision analysis. International Transactions in Operational Research, 25(1), 375-403. https://doi.org/10.1111/itor.12339
• Özlem, K. & Akalp, G. (2017). İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği Açısından Elle Taşıma İşlerinin Değerlendirilmesi: Tekstil ve Otomotiv Sektörü Örneği. ISGUC The Journal of Industrial Relations and Human Resources, (in Turkish),71-82. https://doi.org/10.4026/isguc.371037
• Rawat, I., & Gaikwad, N. (2020). Work environment in the wheat mills of Punjab, India. Current Science, 118(4), 526-531.
• SGİY, (2012). Sağlık ve Güvenlik İşaretleri Yönetmeliği, (in Turkish), Retrieved in January, 26, 2023 from https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr
• SGK, (2023). Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu, (in Turkish), Retrieved in January, 12, 2023 from https://www.sgk.gov.tr/
• Smith, T. A and Lumley K. P. S (1996). Work-related asthma in a population exposed to grain, flour, and other ingredient dusts. Occupational Medicines. 46: 37-40. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/46.1.37
• Şerifoğlu, U. K., & Sungur, E. (2007). İşletmelerde Sağlık ve Güvenlik Kültürünün Oluşturulması; Tepe Yönetimin Rolü ve Kurum İçi İletişim Olanaklarının Kullanımı. Yönetim Dergisi, (in Turkish), 58.
• Şimşek, H., & Aydoğdu, M. (2020). Endüstriyel İşlerde Yangın Sistemlerinin İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliğinde Etkileri. İSG Akademik, (in Turkish), 2(1), 35-45.
• Tekın, P. & Rızvan, E. (2016). Risk analizi: Bir otomotiv fabrikasında gerçekleştirilen X tipi karar matrisi uygulaması. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi, (in Turkish), 19(3), 91-98.
• Tiikkainen, U., Louhelainen, K., & Nordman, H. (1996). The Nordic expert group for criteria documentation of health risks from chemicals 120. Flour Dust.
• Tosun, S. (2022). Elektrikle Çalışmalarda İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme. Sürdürülebilir Mühendislik Uygulamaları ve Teknolojik Gelişmeler Dergisi, (in Turkish), 5(2), 232-246. https://doi.org/10.51764/smutgd.1082589
• Ünsar, A. S. (2004). İş kazalari ve örgütsel verimlilik. Verimlilik Dergisi, (in Turkish), (3).
• Wijeratne, W. M. P. U., Perera, B. A. K. S., & De Silva, L. (2014). Identification and assessment risks in maintenance operations. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 4(4), 384-405. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-09-2013-0041
• Yağmur, R. (2016). Un İmalatında Çalışanların Gürültü ve Titreşim Maruziyetlerinin Değerlendirilmesi. Ç. V. S. G. Bakanlığı, Uzmanlık Tezi, (in Turkish).
• YİİSGY, (2013). Yapı İşlerinde İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği Yönetmeliği, (in Turkish), Retrieved in January, 22, 2023 from https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr