Identifying and assessment the health hazards of the petrochemical industry using the localized JHA method

Eisa  Majidi; Hadi  Zarei Mahmoud Abadi; Hamed Fattahi Bafghi; Soodabeh Ahmadi; Morteza Sharifi; Behnam Moradi

doi:10.18502/ohhp.v5i4.8462

Eisa Majidi Department of Environment, Islamic Azad University, Meybod, Yazd,Iran
Hadi Zarei Mahmoud Abadi Department of Environment, Islamic Azad University, Meybod, Yazd,Iran
Hamed Fattahi Bafghi Department of Environment, Islamic Azad University, Meybod, Yazd,Iran
Soodabeh Ahmadi Department of Environment, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Fars, Iran
Morteza Sharifi Department of Environment Health Engineering, School of Pubhic Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Behnam Moradi Department of Health, Safety and Environment, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ohhp.v5i4.8462

Keywords: Risk Assessment, JHA, Petrochemical industry, Health Hazards

Abstract

Introduction: In the petrochemical industry, there are various harmful factors that lack of attention and proper management will have adverse consequences for the organization and employees. The aim of this study was to Identifying and assessment the health hazards of the petrochemical industry using the localized JHA method.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study that conducted in one of Iran's petrochemicals, in order to assess the health risk caused by harmful factors was used from localized JHA method. First, after determining the desired job and dividing it into job duties, the number of tasks was specified. Then, in order to calculate the Risk Priority Number (RPN), from multiplication of 3 factors of probability of occurrence, severity and frequency of exposure was used. All calculations were performed by Excell.

Results: The results showed that from 353 calculated risks, 93.48% of the total risks are at the acceptable risk level, 4.82% of the risks are at the low importance level and 1.7% is at risk level with medium importance. Also, at between the studied hazards, ergonomic harmful factors with 22%, had the highest frequency and biological harmful factors with 1% had the lowest frequency of hazards.

Conclusion: Regarding to importance of health hazards, in addition to identifying and evaluating them, it is necessary to determine and implement appropriate management measures to reduce and control of risk levels to prevent from accidents and related occupational diseases and the heavy costs.