ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO AIRBORN ASBESTOSE DUST IN THE BRAKE SHOE MANUFACTUREFACTORY

This study has been done in a raajor brake-shoe factor.'. Air samples were taken and dustlevels determined according to OSHA code, revealing a dust load in weighting and shooting saloons ranging from 2 to 16.88 mg/nr\ Measurement and counting of asbestos fibers were done using OSHA ID 160/ code and permissible exposure levels.Asbestos fiber counts in sampled areas were higher than the time weighted average level(TWA) and even higher than action level.Particle size distribution was also determined. It turned out that of the 3000 counted particles,%90 of non-fibers and %10 are fiber-shaped. Also size of %60.4 of counted fibers is lowerthan 10 \x that %80 of them are fibers.The results of this study showed significantly thai the maximum pollution loads occur in theweighting section, especially in the mixers. Heavy pollutant load. low air flow (face velocity)and use of canopies with the lowest enclosure may be regarded as potential mechanisms.