7. Safety Issues in Composite Materials

People who work in the fibre reinforcement industry are susceptible to certain diseases, e.g. respiratory problems, skin irritation, and cancer. Respirable particles of reinforced fibres are the main problems contributing to the health issues. This shows the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize health problems among workers. The need to address safety, health, and environmental hazards in the processing and manufacturing of composites and their use are key aspects of continued growth and development within the composites industry. There are four aspects of protective measures and actions, which are engineering controls, administrative control, PPE, and medical surveillance and screening. PPE is a supplemental option in supporting other advanced levels of exposure controls. Several types of PPEs are suitable to be used in composite handlings, such as organic vapor respirator, safety goggles, flock lined latex gloves, and disposable bodysuit. Training is required for each employee at the company. The existing, secure, corporate training system can be modified to guide workers about the exact types of composite products used by the company. This level of specificity is a greater safety benefit than prior general knowledge. In fact, the theory is similar to degree materials but the practice is an opportunity rarely offered or encountered during our working life. As far as reasonably practicable, training programs offer long-life learning that benefits us in many ways.