IMPROVEMENT OF WORKING-CONDITIONS AT BLAST-FURNACES

The purpose of this investigation was to estimate the main stresses to which the melter is exposed, to analyze their factors and to propose technical solutions likely to reduce them. The research encompassed 3 stages. The 1st was the diagnostic stage, intended to identify the principal sources of stress and to quantify them in order to determine a priority for the 2nd stage. The analysis of the working conditions was performed in terms of equivalent circulatory strain. The continuous telemetry of the heart rate was used as method for measuring this strain in practice and proved to be the most practical procedure for assessing the muscular work stress. The 2nd was the therapeutic stage, during which the main technical and organizational solutions were to be figured out in order to reduce the physiological load without altering the production, qualitatively or quantitatively. The 3rd was the stage of implementation and control, aiming at putting the technical solutions to work and controlling their efficiency. The realized technical improvements (reduction of runners length, covering of the runners, etc.) achieved a reduction of the thermal stress due to radiation of the liquid pig iron as well as the motor stress which is mainly a function of the pig iron production. Other effects such as reduction of the number of minor and serious accidents accompany the technical improvements.