Workers' exposure to dust and potentially toxic elements during steel cutting in two ship dismantling cases

• Published in: Ocean engineering 2023-02, Vol.270, p.113628, Article 113628
• Main Authors: Gunbeyaz, Sefer Anil, Giagloglou, Evanthia, Kurt, Rafet Emek, Rogge, Karin Garmer, Alkaner, Selim, McKenna, Stuart A., Turan, Osman, Lord, Richard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical hazards; Coated steel; Cutting fume; Cutting fumes; Cutting process; Dismantling; Dust; Emission; Emissions; Heavy metals; Metal cutting; occupational exposure; Occupational risks; Recycling; Ship dismantling; Ship recycling; Ships; steel; Torch cutting; toxic substance; vessel; Workers; Workers' exposures
• ISSN: 0029-8018; 1873-5258; 1873-5258
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2023.113628

Ship dismantling is the recommended recycling solution for the end of a ship's life, but the process is not free of occupational risk. Despite proper regulations, there are underlying chemical and physical hazards, mainly due to the cutting of steel parts, which is the core of the recycling process. The overall aim of this research study is to determine, in two case study examples, the ship recycling workers' potential occupational exposure by inhalation of chemical agents generated by the torch cutting process of coated and de-coated steel. This was carried out specifically through (i) monitoring and measuring ship recycling workers' local environment for the inhalable (total dust) and respirable (fine dust) fractions during their working operations, (ii) analysing the heavy metal content of the dust and (iii) calculating and comparing this against occupational exposure limits, (iv) comparing de-coating operations with cutting of coated and de-coated steel. Results of this study show that without further mitigation workers involved in torch cutting processes are at high risk of exposure to heavy metals by inhalation as these are exceeding the norms defined by regulatory bodies. •Steel cutting in ship dismantling releases particulates to air and the environment.•Potentially toxic elements are released from steel coatings during cutting.•Inhalable and respirable dust limits for workers may be exceeded during cutting.•Potentially toxic elements in dust exceeds limits if present in steel or coatings.•Ship recycling by steel cutting requires effective regulation.