Working environment factors
How does Acetylene affect workers’ health?
Dec
Acetylene (C₂H₂) is an important chemical in production, but it poses potential health risks to workers. This article will explore how Acetylene affects health when working in a factory, the potential risks involved, and effective protective solutions to ensure occupational safety.
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1. What is Acetylene?
Acetylene, with the chemical formula C₂H₂, is a simple and flammable organic compound. It consists of two main elements: carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). The structure of Acetylene has two carbon atoms linked together by a triple bond, with each carbon atom also bonded to one hydrogen atom. Thanks to this structure, Acetylene is one of the carbon compounds with high energy content, making it highly flammable and reactive with many other substances, especially under high temperature and pressure conditions.
Acetylene is primarily produced through the reaction between calcium carbide (CaC₂) and water. It is a colorless gas with a characteristic garlic-like odor and is commonly used in metal welding and cutting applications due to the high-temperature flame it produces when burned. Acetylene is also used in many other industries such as the production of chemicals, plastics, and pharmaceuticals. However, due to its flammable nature and its ability to form explosive mixtures with air, the use and storage of Acetylene require strict adherence to safety regulations.
| No. | Chemical Name in Vietnamese | Chemical Name in English | HS Code | CAS Number | Chemical Formula |
| 1. | Axetylen | Acetylene | 29012910 | 74-86-2 | C₂H₂ |
See more chemical safety training services according to Decree 113/2017/NĐ-CP
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2. What are the sources of Acetylene in the production process?
During production, Acetylene primarily originates from two main sources. First, it is produced through the reaction between calcium carbide (CaC₂) and water. When calcium carbide reacts with water, it releases Acetylene gas and produces calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂). This is a traditional and common method for producing Acetylene, especially in industrial plants.
Second, Acetylene can also be created through the thermal cracking of methane (CH₄). In this method, methane is heated to a very high temperature (around 1,500°C) in an oxygen-deficient environment. Methane then decomposes into smaller compounds, including Acetylene. This process is often used for large-scale Acetylene production, particularly in the chemical industries.
Both methods produce Acetylene during the production process, but each method has different requirements and conditions, suitable for different purposes and production scales.
3. Industries that use Acetylene in production
In production, Acetylene is widely used in many industries due to its flammable nature and its ability to generate high temperatures when burned. One of the industries that uses a lot of Acetylene is the metal welding and cutting industry. When combined with oxygen, Acetylene creates a flame with a very high temperature, reaching up to 3,200°C, which is sufficient to cut and weld hard metal materials like steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Therefore, it is a popular choice on construction sites and in the mechanical engineering and machinery manufacturing sectors.
Besides, Acetylene is also used in the chemical industry to produce organic compounds such as acetaldehyde and acetic acid. These are important raw materials in the pharmaceutical, plastics, and cosmetic industries. Acetylene was also used in the lighting industry, although it is less common now due to the advent of more modern light sources.
In addition, Acetylene also plays a role in some other industries such as the production of textiles, rubber products, and food processing.
4. How does Acetylene affect workers?
When workers are exposed to Acetylene in the workplace, they can face several serious health risks. Acetylene is a flammable gas, and if it leaks or is not used correctly, it can cause fires and explosions, especially in environments with heat sources or sparks. This risk is very high in industries that use Acetylene for metal welding and cutting, where thermal equipment and flames are present.
In addition to the risk of fire and explosion, Acetylene can also have adverse effects on the respiratory system of workers when inhaled. If Acetylene is inhaled for a long period or at high concentrations, it can cause difficulty breathing, headaches, dizziness, and in severe cases, can lead to asphyxiation. Although Acetylene is not directly toxic like some other gases, prolonged exposure to high concentrations can affect health, especially for those working in poorly ventilated environments or without safety protection equipment.
5. Permissible safe concentration of Acetylene for human exposure
The permissible safe concentration of Acetylene for human exposure is typically regulated by health and occupational safety organizations. According to international standards such as those from OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the concentration of Acetylene in the air should not exceed 250 ppm (parts per million) over an 8-hour workday. This is the maximum level to which a worker can be exposed without experiencing adverse health effects.
Furthermore, the recommended short-term maximum concentration is 1,000 ppm for a period not exceeding 15 minutes. This level allows workers to operate in an environment with Acetylene but requires safety measures such as good ventilation and the use of personal protective equipment. When the concentration of Acetylene exceeds these levels, the risk of fire, explosion, and health effects on workers increases, potentially causing respiratory problems or the risk of asphyxiation.
On a basic level, if working in an industrial environment, it is important to comply with safety standards and limit exposure to Acetylene. Organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States provide guidelines and safety principles to protect workers from the negative effects of chemical substances.
6. Measures to mitigate the effects of Acetylene on workers’ health
To minimize the effects of Acetylene on workers’ health, several strict safety measures must be implemented in the workplace. First, ensuring good ventilation in the work area is the most critical condition. Adequate ventilation helps to reduce the concentration of Acetylene in the air, thereby limiting the risk of inhaling the gas at high concentrations and minimizing adverse effects on the respiratory system.
Next, workers must be fully equipped with personal protective equipment, including masks, respirators, or self-contained breathing apparatus that supply clean air in areas with high concentrations of Acetylene. This equipment will help prevent the risk of inhaling harmful gas, protecting workers’ health during direct exposure to Acetylene gas.
In addition, training workers on occupational safety, especially awareness of the risks associated with the use and handling of Acetylene, is extremely important. Workers need to be instructed on how to identify and handle risky situations such as gas leaks, fires, explosions, as well as first aid measures in case of an incident.
Finally, regular inspection and maintenance of equipment and Acetylene pipelines are necessary to detect early signs of leaks, preventing the gas from being released into the environment. These measures will help minimize the impact of Acetylene on workers’ health and maintain a safe working environment.
Occupational safety training: Workers need to be trained and educated on the risks and safety measures when working with this type of chemical. This training should be provided periodically and regularly to ensure understanding and proper compliance with safety rules.
Periodically organize occupational environment monitoring in factories and enterprises, to collect and analyze harmful factors for workers, thereby adjusting to reduce the level of harm to prevent occupational diseases for them.
7. National Occupational Environment Monitoring Center
The occupational environment monitoring center of Nam Viet is a professional unit specializing in monitoring and measuring the quality of the working environment across all provinces in Vietnam. With a team of experienced monitoring specialists, the center uses modern measuring equipment to ensure accuracy and reliability.
REGISTER FOR OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICES
In addition to providing monitoring services, the center also assists clients in planning, handling, and tracking issues related to the occupational environment. With the motto “the customer is the center,” the center is concerned with customer satisfaction, meeting all customer needs, and is committed to providing the best solutions for businesses.
With investment in technology, engineering, and human resources, Nam Viet’s monitoring center has been and is becoming one of the reputable units in the field of occupational environment monitoring in Ho Chi Minh City with the following objectives:
- We always value our brand reputation and the quality of our products and services.
- We provide our customers with the best and most suitable things possible.
- Along with a team of experienced Masters and Engineers with a desire to protect the environment and benefit businesses.
- Coming to the Nam Viet Environmental Monitoring team, your company will receive professional service from experts in the monitoring field. At the same time, you will get the best deals on costs.
8. Quotation for Occupational Environment Monitoring
To help businesses carry out occupational environment monitoring professionally and effectively, Nam Viet provides our valued customers with a quotation for quality and reasonably priced occupational environment monitoring services.
- Our monitoring quotation provides detailed information about the prices of the monitoring services we offer. It includes costs related to travel, measurement, analysis, and reporting of results. Our valued customers can be completely assured of the accuracy and reliability of the monitoring result reports we provide.
- We are committed to always offering the most competitive and reasonable prices on the market, and we are also always ready to consult and answer any questions about monitoring services quickly and professionally.
- With Nam Viet’s monitoring quotation, our valued customers can easily choose service packages that suit their needs. We are committed to bringing our customers the highest satisfaction with professional service quality.
