OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN COMPOSITE MATERIAL PRODUCTION: CHEMICAL EXPOSURE, RESPIRATORY RISKS AND PREVENTIVE APPROACHES
13th INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH, İstanbul, Türkiye, 12 Kasım 2026, ss.1-15, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
- Basıldığı Şehir: İstanbul
- Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-15
- Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study provides a comprehensive
evaluation of occupational health and safety (OHS) hazards, toxicological
characteristics, and respiratory health risks associated with composite
manufacturing and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP/GRP) production environments.
The research synthesizes official labor statistics, national academic theses,
and international scientific literature to identify critical occupational
exposure pathways and assess their potential effects on workers' health.
Composite manufacturing processes, particularly open-mold applications, resin
preparation, raw material mixing, lamination, and surface finishing, may expose
workers to hazardous chemical substances, including volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), styrene, organic solvents, and respirable particulate matter. Styrene
exposure is of particular concern because airborne concentrations may exceed
applicable occupational exposure limits, potentially contributing to oxidative
DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes, cytotoxic effects in buccal
epithelial cells, and other adverse biological responses. In addition to
chemical hazards, acoustic assessments indicate that noise levels in certain
production areas may exceed the upper exposure action value of 85 dB(A),
increasing the risk of occupational hearing impairment. Respiratory health
assessments further highlight the association between prolonged exposure to
respirable dust, glass and carbon fiber particles, and chemical aerosols with
reduced pulmonary function, airway irritation, and chronic respiratory conditions,
including bronchitis. Based on these findings, this study proposes an
integrated risk mitigation framework structured around the hierarchy of
controls. Recommended measures include transitioning from open-mold to
closed-mold manufacturing technologies, implementing effective local exhaust
ventilation (LEV) systems, improving process automation, conducting regular
workplace exposure monitoring, and strengthening occupational health
surveillance. Administrative measures, including appropriate work organization
and exposure-time management, should complement engineering controls. Finally,
certified personal protective equipment (PPE), including EN 140-compliant
half-mask respirators with appropriately selected ABEK1-P2 filters, should be
used as a supplementary protective measure to minimize residual occupational
risks and promote safer, healthier, and more sustainable composite
manufacturing environments.