Health risk Assessment of Exposure to Harmful Chemical Agents in a Refinery

Background: Process units, due to performance conditions at high pressure and high temperatures, are prone to many health risks that can lead to adverse effects during work. In order to identify health hazards, assess their risks and make appropriate decisions to control the risk and improve the health of individuals in this regard, the assessment of health risks is of particular importance. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess and prioritize health risks in a refinery. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a refinery in 2012. In this study, 14 important chemical substances were identified and analyzed.  Excel analysis was used to analyze the data. To assess the health risks due to chemical exposure the methodology proposed by the Department of Health Care in University of Singapore was used. First, important chemicals were identified and then the degree of risk and degree of exposure to chemicals were calculated and finally the level of health risk due to exposure to chemicals was determined. Results: The results showed that from 14 identified cases, exposure to diglycol diamine had a risk level of 4.47 (very high), hydrogen sulfide a risk level of 3.87 (high level), and molybdenum and nickel base catalysts a health risk of 3.87 (high), all of which were in a range of  unacceptable risk. Conclusion: In this study exposure to diglycol diamine, hydrogen sulfide, and molybdenum and nickel based catalysts was in the range of unacceptable risk. Using management and engineering controls such as personnel training, shortening the work shift of individuals, pre-recruitment and periodical examinations, designing a ventilation system, and the use of detectors and discovery equipment are recommended to reduce the level of risk.