Journal Article

Infrared radiation exposure in traditional glass factories

Giuliani, Franco, Pinto, Iole, Sistos, Renata, Stacchini, Nicola

2000

Overview

A general method of evaluating exposure to infrared radiation (IR-A, IR-B, IR-C) from high temperature (T > 1000°C) black body sources, simply by performing measurements with a luxometric and/or near IR detector, is reported. The method, which may be applied to any black body source, uses the universality of the Planck formula for the black body spectrum, which allows estimation of the radiated power in any wavelength range by measuring the power radiated in another range. This capability may be very useful when the range of interest is one in which radiometers are expensive and difficult to calibrate, as for the IR-B and IR-C ranges, because a more commonly available luxometer can be used instead. The results of measurements and evaluations in two traditional Italian glass factories are reported and compared with the threshold limit value given by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Intense exposures in the IR-B and IR-C ranges has been found for some workers, exceeding the limit by a large factor. This exposure must be reduced, as it has been shown by epidemiologic studies that there is indeed a correlation between cataractogenesis and work with fused glass and metals.

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subject: Cataracts / Factories / Glass & glassware industry / High temperature / Infrared radiation / Occupational diseases / Occupational safety / Ovens & stoves / Sensors / Studies / Thermal energy