Mixtures of sand, sodium silicate, some additives such as iron oxide, pitch or sugar and an ester can form a temporary mould. Sodium silicate is used in foundries to bind sand grains by means of an appropriate acid, either directly such as CO2, or indirectly with an organic ester, which hydrolyzes and subsequently gels the silicate sand mass. A gel network is prepared by acidifying concentrated sodium silicate (3.3 ratio Of SiO2:Na2O) solution. Sodium silicate solution, under acidic conditions is polymerized to silica and acts as an inorganic binder. In other word, lowering the pH of an alkali silicate solution below about 10.9 causes the polymerization to occur, thus leading to high molecular weight aggregates of hydrated silica. The produced hydrated silica namely silica gel is responsible for giving the necessary strength to the mould. Concentration of the sodium silicate solution is adjusted to 65% (w/w) in water. The viscosity of this solution is adjusted on 500 cp by addition of sugar in an amount of 1.0-2.0% based on weight of sodium silicate. The sugar or pitch is used as a thickening agent, to concentrate the binder solution at a desirable limit. Sodium silicate solution as an inorganic binder is of particular importance mainly because, the necessary time for curing the silicate is low, and it is environmentally extremely beneficial.  

The main purpose of this study was to study the relation between quality of work life and four career anchors among the personnel of Isfahan’s iron FOUNDRY organization. The descriptive correlation method was used in this research. The population was all the personnel of iron FOUNDRY organization in Isfahan including 1200 managers, experts and staffs of the organization which 400 personnel were selected as the sample by cluster sampling method. The research instruments were two questionnaires made by the researcher. The quality of work life questionnaire was devised based on Richard Walton model and had 48 items; the career anchors questionnaire was devised based on Edgar Shine model and had 40 items including four anchors: exploring, establishing, maintaining, and retiring. These two questionnaires utilized a Li kert-type 5 point scale. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by the experts and Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency reliability estimate for quality of work life was 0.79 and for career anchors was 0.89. The research data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, one– way ANOVA, and step by step regression. Findings showed that social dependence; social integrity in work organization, obeying the law in organization, and life general atmosphere has a significant difference among eight factors of quality of work life. In other word, social dependence, social integrity in work organization, obeying the law in organization, and life general atmosphere had effect on the four career anchors while the other factors have no significant effect on the four career anchors. Moreover, it could be mentioned that the quality of work life in any career anchors of the personnel of iron FOUNDRY organization was at the average level.

Background: Respirable dust exposure is associated with increased respiratory impairment. As there are various airborne contaminants in the FOUNDRY industry, our aim was to thoroughly examine the acute effects of ambient respiratory dust on the respiratory system. Materials and Methods: A cross-shift study was conducted in a cast iron FOUNDRY in Iran. A total of 200 participants, including 110 workers from production department and 90 office workers were enrolled in this study. Workers were evaluated with regard to respiratory symptoms using the American Thoracic Society (ATS) questionnaire and examination of their lung function by spirometry. Results: The mean exposure of all studied substances was higher than occupational exposure limits. The most common respiratory symptom in exposed workers was cough (24. 5%). A statistically significant post shift reduction in FEV1 and FEF25-75 was seen in exposed group. After adjusting for age, working history, smoking and Body Mass Index (BMI), there was a significant decrease based on exposure in FEV1 and FVC. Conclusion: Dust exposure was a significant predictor of lung function. Implementing the health promotion program, periodic medical surveillance and efficient use of respiratory protection equipment could help to protect FOUNDRY workers from respiratory impairment.

Among all deathful and destructive factors, the work related accidents are of special importance. The principles of accident prevention have been changed after the mid 20th century based on refusing and decreasing the human unsafe acts. The most important step in accident prevention is recognition of accident occurrence reasons, so, it is necessary to evaluate the labors' unsafe acts that are the main causes of accident. In this study, the workers' unsafe acts in Godazan factory were evaluated by safety behavior sampling method, observation and interview in 2000. After description of unsafe acts, the sample size was 573 cases based on results of pilot study and sampling accuracy to 5% and confidence level to 95%. Using questionnaires, variables related to the workers were collected. The results showed that 59.2% of workers acts are unsafe. The most important unsafe acts are not using personal protective equipment with 50% out of total unsafe acts. The results showed a significant difference between unsafe acts and age, number of family members (p 0.01) ,education and former accident(p 0.05). The findings of the study showed that most of workers' acts in Godazan FOUNDRY were unsafe. Since, unsafe acts are the main causes of accidents, the results emphasize on decreasing the unsafe acts and recommend behaving according to safety principles.

Backgrounds and Aims: Aluminum and in particular its compounds make up a large proportion of the pollutants coming from the aluminum FOUNDRY. In several studies conducted on the harmful effects of aluminum in recent decades, it has been identified as a neurotoxic metal. Chronic occupational exposure through inhalation of dust is a common problem in aluminum foundries. Investigation of the exposure of various occupational groups in two aluminum FOUNDRY plants to aluminum aerosols.Materials and Methods: To study the occupational exposure of FOUNDRY workers to respirable aerosols of aluminum, personal sampling was conducted from the breathing zone of 63 workers at two foundries in the south of Tehran city following NIOSH method No.0600. Then samples were treated using NIOSH Institute optimized method No.7013 and analyzed by high sensitivity graphite atomic absorption.Collected data were analyzed with SPSS V.16 statistical software using an independent sample t-test and ANOVA.Result: The average of aluminum respirable aerosols in A and B factories were 3.21±2.33 and 3.31±2.15 mg/m3 respectively. The one-way ANOVA indicated that occupational exposure among various occupational groups (Similar Exposure Group) in FOUNDRY A had no significant difference (p=0.089), but differences between the exposure of melting and assembling groups in FOUNDRY B are significant (p=0.044). In general, in exposure frequency to aerosols in aluminum foundries, a significant difference was observed between melting and assembling groups (p=0.005) as well among abrading and assembling groups (p=0.02).Conclusion: Most of the exposures to aluminum in FOUNDRY workers exceeded the current limits given by ACGIH Institute and the Iranian occupational exposure limits. According to the occupational exposure of both foundries and the absence of differences among variables involved in the exposure, the high exposure of melting and abrading groups compared to assembling groups can be attributed to the nature of these units in the production of aluminum aerosols.

Background and Aim: Heat stress is one of the physical hazardous agents in the workplace with many adverse health effects. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between heat stress and workers' blood parameters in a FOUNDRY. Methods: This case-control study was conducted in July 2018 on 55 male subjects employed in Saipa Malleable FOUNDRY located in Tehran, Iran. The selected individuals included 35 subjects working in the FOUNDRY Hall (exposed group) and 20 subjects working in the CNC workshop (Control group) of a FOUNDRY plant. First, demographic information, medical records and occupational data of all subjects were collected using a selfregulated questionnaire. Blood samples (5 ccs) were taken from the subjects during the work to determine the blood components (including WBC, RBC, HCT, HGB, MCH, MCHC, MCV, PLT, RDW, PDW, MPV). Samples were analyzed by Automated Blood Cell Counting. The time-weighted average value of WBGT was determined for studied job tasks in the exposure group and two job tasks in the control group. Sound pressure levels and light intensities were also measured. Results: The average WBGT index was 32. 97 ° C for the exposed group and 22. 5 ° C for the control group. Laboratory findings showed that the number of white blood cells was less in the exposed group. The hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and platelet count in the exposed group were higher than the control group (P<0. 05). No significant relationship was found between the WBGT index and other blood Parameters (P>0. 05). The t-test results did not show a significant difference between sound pressure level and light intensity in both exposure and control groups (P>0. 05). Spearman's results did not show a significant correlation between sound pressure level and light intensity with blood Parameters, but significant correlation was observed between the average WBGT index and the number of white blood cells, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit. Conclusion: The average number of white blood cells in the exposed group was lower than the control group. Also, the mean concentration of hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and platelet count was higher than the control group. Exposure to chronic heat stress can increase blood concentrations with increased hematologic factors and increase vascular resistance and reduce oxygen supply to tissues.

Background and aims: As a Development of Industrial process, human, environment, equipment, material and validity of system has been exposed to hazardous conditions. Regards of 32.3 percent of occupations in industries, this study focused on risk assessment of FOUNDRY unit by energy trace and barrier analysis (ETBA) method and presented approaches to control faccident.Methods: the recent study is as a case study one to risk assessment in a FOUNDRY unit in Qazvin industrial city in 1387. In this study risks were founded by ETBA method and evaluated by MILSTD-882B. Data were collected by direct observations, interview with workers and supervisor and engineers, walking-talking through method, documents investigation of operational processors, preventive maintenances, equipment technical properties, accidental and medical documents. Finally ETBA worksheets completed.Findings: totally 154 risks has been found. 40 from total are been unacceptable risk, 68 unfavorable and also 46 acceptable but with remediation action. Casting workshop had risks more than other workshops (with 74 identified risks). Potential and heat energies were founded as most hazardous energies, with respectively 51 and 38 risk cases.Conclusion: This study recommended to be done actions for identification and control risk, such as: safety training, occupation training, preventive maintenance, contract safety, safety communication and safety audit group.

Computer solutions Multiphysics 3.5a software was used for simulating the two-dimensional copper migration including sorption process through the saturated zone of the soil in the presence of permeable reactive barrier for equilibrium condition. The 1:3 mixture of waste FOUNDRY sand and Kerbala’s sand was used as filling material for this barrier. The waste FOUNDRY sand was represented the reactivity material, while Kerbala’s sand used to increase the permeability of reactive barrier only. However, Fourier transform infrared analysis proved that the carboxylic and alkyl halide groups are responsible for the sorption of copper onto waste FOUNDRY sand. Batch tests have been performed to characterize the equilibrium sorption properties of the waste FOUNDRY sand and Kerbala’s sand mix in copper-containing aqueous solutions. Numerical and experimental results proved that the permeable reactive barrier plays a potential role in the restriction of the contaminant plume migration. Also, predicted results showed that the thicker barrier is better than the thinner ones in copper treatment, and this barrier saturates with contaminant as a function of the travel time. However, a good agreement between the predicted and experimental results was recognized with mean error not exceeded 10%.

Introduction: Heat-related diseases are common disorders in many industries. Heat stress can cause changes in the secretion of some plasma hormones. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of heat stress on concentrations of serum triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) hormones among FOUNDRY workers.Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out with 35 workers of a FOUNDRY industry in summer 2013. In order to investigate the relationships between chronic and acute effects of heat on concentrations of thyroid hormones, 10- cc blood sample was obtained and determined using ELISA kit. Indoor air parameters were measured in mid-August at 7 workstations in this industry. Paired t- test and Wilcoxon test were applied to determine the relationships between variables before and after heat exposure.Results: The WBGT index in the studied stations was 35°C and the mean of dry temperature and radiation was 40.53°C and 47.5± 6oC, respectively. The results of this research revealed that in the experimental group, the acute exposure to heat can cause significant decreases in the concentration of thyroid hormones and serum triiodothyronine (p< 0.001). A positive correlation was found between the concentration of T3 hormone among the workers, WBGT index, and the ambient air temperature.Conclusion: Acute exposure to heat can cause reduction in the levels of T3 and T4 hormones among the workers. Changes in the level of T3 hormone may be observed as one of the heat strain indexes.