Diseño de una capota de contención con sistema de extracción localizada para mitigar el polvo que se genera en el área de descarga de materia prima al granel en una planta de alimento balanceado.

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze occupational exposure to respirable dust in the bulk raw material unloading area of a shrimp feed manufacturing plant, using a descriptive and cross-sectional approach. The study was developed based on the analysis of historical environmental monitoring data from 2022, 2023, and 2024, obtained using the NIOSH 0600 methodology, as well as the application of a survey to exposed personnel during 2025, in order to complement the technical diagnosis with the workers' perceptions. The environmental monitoring analyses revealed concentrations of respirable dust that exceed the exposure limits established by the ACGIH and OSHA regulations, identifying the bulk raw material unloading area as a critical point. Furthermore, the survey results indicated a widespread perception of the constant presence of particulate matter during the workday. Based on the evidence obtained, a conceptual design for a dust containment hood with a local exhaust ventilation system was developed and modeled using AutoCAD software. This design was presented as an engineering control proposal to help control dust particle dispersion at the source. A continuous improvement scheme derived from the Deming PDCA cycle was then established for the purpose of analyzing occupational exposure and developing a technical proposal based on diagnostic data. It is important to note that evaluating the effectiveness of the proposed system will be part of a future investigation, which is not addressed in this case study.