Health Risk Assessment in Animal-feed Industry (Case Study: University Farm, SUT)

Abstract

This study aimed to assess health risk of workers in animal-feed industry. The study processes were divided into three steps. The first step was walk-through survey in the work place for hazard identification and tasks categorization. The second step was environmental measurement for exposure assessment and health examination; and collecting general information of study subject using interview questionnaires (ILO) for health effect rating. The third step was qualitative risk assessment and prioritization by U.S.EPA model using results environmental measurement and health examination. It was found that health hazards from different processes were similar type of hazard but vary in their magnitude. The highest health effect rating and exposure rating for dust exposure were in intake process with Level 2 (Chest tightness, shortness of breath, cough >= 3 month) for health effect rating and Level 2 (continuous Dust Exposure < 5 mg/m3/work-h) for exposure rating; for noise exposure were in intake process with Level 1 (Hearing Level 27-40 dB(A)) for health effect rating and Level 1 (Noise Exposure 85-90 dB(A)/work-h) for exposure rating; for heat exposure were in expedition, premix, packaging and intake process with Level 1 (Fatigue, Rash, Headache and Squeamish Symptoms) for health effect rating and Level 3 (WBGT 29-32 C/work-h) for exposure rating. The qualitative risk for dust exposure was in moderate risk category in intake process but low risk in molas, premix, packaging, and trivial risk in silo operator, expedition and maintenance process; for noise exposure was trivial risk in every processes except low risk in intake process; for heat exposure was moderate risk in intake, packaging, premix and molas process except low risk in silo operator and maintenance process.