Occupational exposure to ultraviolet and infrared radiation in a steel industry

The steel industries are one of the industries that their workers are highly exposed to physical harmful agents including radiation. The aim of this study was to assess the occupational exposure to ultraviolet and infrared radiation in in a steel industry.
This Descriptive - analytical and cross- sectional study was conducted in 13 workstations in a steel industry in 2014. For measurement of ultraviolet and infrared radiation direct reading instruments were used to assess the intensity of radiation entering eyes. Finally, after collecting data, statistical analysis performed using SPSS19 software.
The average age and job experience of the studied workers were 31.05 and 5.45, respectively. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation ranged from 1.89 to 6.3 mw/cm2. Exposure to infrared radiation also ranged from 5.02 to 49.1 mw/cm2. In all measurement stations exposure to ultraviolet radiation was more than threshold limit value. In addition, in furnace 1, furnace 2 , hoist unit, and moving wrenches unit the intensity of infrared radiation was more than threshold limit value.
According to the findings of the present study, occupational exposure to ultraviolet radiation is more than threshold limit value and in some units, exposure to infrared radiation is more than threshold limit value and interventional measures are necessary to reduce the exposure.