DETERMINATION OF THE RISKS AT CHEMICAL CONTACT THROUGH THE SKIN DURING THE TANNING PROCESS IN TERMS OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN LEATHER FACTORIES: AN APPLICATION AT LEATHER (COMPOSITE) ORGANIZED INDUSTRIAL ZONE IN UŞAK

Hülya ELMALI GÜLBA޹ , Serhan KARAKA޲

Leather is commercially important material apart from being a complex organic structure to protect livings against external factors. Crude leather is converted into end product leather through some complex processes such as liming, tanning, dyeing, oiling and finishing. However, in this process hazardous and toxic chemicals which may pose occupational exposure on workers are used. This study was performed in a universe that consisted of 10 businesses and 235 employees making leather for the purpose of measuring chemical exposure while they are working in tanneries at leather composite organized industrial zone in Uşak. The sample was formed by using simple random sampling strategy within probabilistic sampling methods and 110 employees were interviewed face to face at study visits. The result of the analysis of the data shows that the workers are exposed to mostly formic acid, sulphuric acid, chromic acid and oxalic acid through the skin during production processes. In terms of the duration of exposure to these chemicals is defined 15 minutes. As the result of this field study, the exposure of the employees to the chemicals which are used in leather processing was determined and suggestions about occupational health and safety were offered for employees and employers.

Keywords
Leather Tannery, Chemical Exposure, Uşak, Skin Diseases, Occupational Health and Safety,