1. The forging process involves: cutting materials to the required dimensions, heating, forging, heat treatment, cleaning, and inspection. In small-scale manual forging operations, all these tasks are performed by a team of master and assistant smiths within a confined space, where they are exposed to the same hazardous environments and occupational risks. In contrast, within large-scale forging workshops, the specific hazards vary depending on the individual workstation.
Working Conditions: Although working conditions differ according to the specific type of forging being performed, they share certain common characteristics: physically demanding labor of moderate intensity; a localized microclimate characterized by dry heat; the generation of noise and vibration; and atmospheric contamination by fumes and smoke.
2. Workers are simultaneously exposed to high-temperature air and thermal radiation, leading to an accumulation of heat within the body. This accumulated heat-combined with metabolic heat generated by physical exertion-can disrupt the body's thermoregulation mechanisms and induce pathological changes. The volume of sweat produced during an eight-hour shift varies depending on the specific microclimate, the level of physical exertion, and the individual's degree of heat acclimatization; typically, this volume ranges from 1.5 to 5 liters, or potentially even higher. In smaller forging workshops or at workstations situated further away from heat sources, the Belding-Hatch Heat Stress Index typically ranges from 55 to 95; however, in large-scale forging workshops, readings at workstations located in close proximity to heating furnaces or drop hammers may soar to between 150 and 190. Such conditions significantly increase the risk of salt depletion and heat cramps. During the cold season, exposure to fluctuations in the microclimate may, to a certain extent, foster physiological acclimatization; however, rapid and excessively frequent shifts in environmental conditions can pose a significant hazard to health.
Atmospheric Pollution: The air within the workplace may contain particulate matter (soot/dust), carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and potentially acrolein. The concentrations of these contaminants depend on the type of fuel used in the heating furnaces-including any impurities present-as well as the efficiency of combustion, airflow patterns, and the effectiveness of the ventilation system.
Noise and Vibration: Forging hammers inevitably generate low-frequency noise and vibration, though they may also produce certain high-frequency components; the resulting sound pressure levels typically range from 95 to 115 decibels. Prolonged exposure to forging-related vibrations can lead to both organic and functional physiological disorders, thereby diminishing work capacity and compromising workplace safety.
