The occupational risks of using abrasive blasting in the ship and yacht repair industry

Abstract

Abrasive blasting is a widely used process in the ship and yacht repair industry. This qualitative study investigates how employers and employees view the situation in Malta. Eight semi-structured interviews with five employers and three employees in the abrasive blasting industry were conducted to fulfil the study's goal. Data obtained through this qualitative study was examined using Thematic Analysis to identify commonly emerging themes (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The findings show that most of the employers use dry conventional abrasive blasting as it is cost-effective; only two employers have taken the initiative to invest in modern water pressure blasting/hydro-blasting to reduce the risks to the health of workers and the environment. The findings also highlight the need for additional research into the occupational risks of abrasive blasting in Malta, and feasible alternative methods to minimise these risks. In this regard, future research should prioritize investigating the constrained use of dry abrasive blasting while also focusing on advancing nonabrasive blasting techniques within the ship repair sector.