Analysis of risks related to sintering industry

In the last years, sintering industry has experimented a huge growing due to its economic benefits in comparison with traditional casting processes and this growing brings with itself two potential risks: metal powder in the ambience and the use of trichloroethylene for the final product physical characterization. Although the most metal powder is not in the breathable fraction, is important to take it into account in the risk evaluation and propose best available preventive measures for it such as local extraction and not only confinement methods, especially in blending areas. Furthermore, for the porosity measurements of final products, boiling trichloroethylene is needed. As have been reported in several researches, trichloroethylene is closely linked with liver and lung cancer. In this paper, these risks will be evaluated by through COSHH Essentials and INRS Method and preventive measures will be proposed as well as alternative chemical products for replace trichloroethylene.