Kartläggning av hälsorisker vid tillverkning av ankel-fot-ortoser

Sammanfattning: This thesis is part of a bigger project, ORTO - roughly translated to optimized resource efficient manufacturing of orthoses. During the manufacturing of orthopedic aids many different methods are used to manufacture individually adjusted products. Processes, methods and material may vary depending on what end product is going to be produced. The knowledge of how the manufacturing affects the employees long term is not complete from a health-oriented perspective. The purpose of this thesis is to map out the manufacturing processes for rigid and hinged molded ankle-foot orthoses made primarily from carbon fibre composite. This will then be used to identify the potential sources of exposure of hazardous materials that can lead to health issues. To answer the problem statements theory about process mapping has been gathered and observations in the shape of video recordings have been done at Borås Orthotics to map out the current situation, in addition to interviews. The purpose of the process mapping was also to identify potential sources of emission where exposure to hazardous materials was evident. Theory and research about these materials has been gathered about the potential health issues. The exposure times from the sources of emissions has been compiled from the video recordings, where it was deemed to be four possible sources, in the form of dry carbon fibre bands, casting with poly methyl methacrylate, sanding and gluing. The exposure times and the sources of emission has been analyzed and compared with theory and research to investigate if there was any possible health hazards. The discussion has most importantly been about how the manufacturing of hazardous materials can affect the employees in terms of health and how the exposure times can be reduced. The conclusion is that certain sources of emissions run a greater risk to affect the employees negatively and certain measures might be in order to in terms of changing how the work is performed. It might be worth some reconstruction to make the work place safer in addition to reviewing certain methods. In general the regulations are a good idea to abide by since they are intended to prevent exposure for employees that work materials such as carbon fibers. Other practical suggestions of how to reduce the exposure to hazardous materials are included. An example of this could be to install a mirror solution in the fume cupboard at the casting process or to look at the routines and the work methods applied at the sanding process. The regulations should also be compared to how the work is currently performed and applied according to the work environment regulations.