Identification and Assessment of Health Risks in Order to Provide Control Measures in a Bitumen Production Process from the Vacuum Bottom of Oil Refineries

In the process of bitumen production, the release of vapors and gases in a confined space can cause health hazards. These vapors contain aromatic hydrocarbons, smoke and a very small amount of hydrogen sulfide. The aim of this study was to determine the level of health risk in occupational exposure of workers in a bitumen industry using vacuum baton of oil refinery.

In this study, the chemical risk assessment method of chemicals, including semi-quantitative assessment of Malaysia, Singapore Department, which systematically identified chemical hazards and then the exposure or probability of exposure was calculated and the risk level was determined and control measures necessary to reduce risk Related items were introduced and prioritized. The occupations of the guillotine and press operator, welding and cutting units, paint pool, vacuum discharge, laboratory, repairmen and guard and office units were assessed in this study.

According to the results of this study, 65% of the people were working in the barrel making unit and bitumen production site and 79% of the people had less than 10 years of work experience. Workplace chemical agents included gasoline, toluene, orthosylene, paraxylene, ethylbenzene, heptane, hexane, and Trichloroethylene, kerosene vapors, iron, zinc, copper, chromium, and asphalt and bitumen fumes. The highest risk coefficients were related to benzene, chromium fume and bitumen vapors. Also, in terms of location, the highest risk levels were related to the paint pool, cutting and pressing units, welding and laboratory, and about half of the exposure to metal fumes, organic solvents and bitumen vapors had medium and high risk levels.

Based on the results of this study, the highest level of health risk was obtained for benzene and chromium compounds and bitumen vapors for which appropriate control measures should be taken, including the installation of local vacuum cleaners, the use of appropriate personal protective equipment, Reducing exposure time, mechanization of processes, sampling of workers' respiratory area and paraclinical tests and biological monitoring of chemical contaminants can be used to control the exposure to these compounds.