A mixed-methods evaluation of health and safety hazards at a scrap metal recycling facility

Little work has been done to assess hazardous exposures among scrap metal recycling workers. This study evaluated safety and health hazards at one scrap metal recycling facility using three methods. The first method was a semi-quantitative hazard observation tool (HOT) used by researchers to rate the presence and magnitude of exposures for 13 hazards. The second collected self-reported exposure information on nine hazards from workers. The third was quantitative industrial hygiene (IH) measurements of noise, total particulate, carbon monoxide, and blood lead levels.We collected 677 HOT observations, collected self-reported exposure information from all 46 workers at the facility, and made over 150 IH measurements among workers in potentially lead-exposed jobs. All three methods demonstrated substantial exposures to most of the hazards assessed, and exposures were found to vary by work area. Workers were found to report higher exposures to a number of hazards, as well as higher use of controls, when compared to the HOT data. Workers and observations overestimated dust exposures and underestimated noise exposures when compared to IH measurements. Agreement among five different observers who used the HOT instrument was found to be moderate to substantial across all hazards and controls.The results of this study indicate that scrap metal recycling workers at the participating facility were highly exposed to a variety of occupational hazards, and that additional safety and health measures are warranted in the scrap metal recycling industry. The HOT instrument developed for this study has potential for use in evaluating hazards in other industries.

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► Scrap metal recycling workers at the facility assessed face a wide range of occupational hazards.
► Three exposure assessment methods were used to estimate exposures to 13 hazards.
► The three methods showed reasonably good agreement for noise exposure, but not for dust.
► With the exception of dust exposure and hazardous energy, exposures to all hazards were found to be common.
► Exposure reduction efforts are warranted at the participating facility.