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HHE Search Results
86 HHE reports were found based on your search terms. Reports are listed in order of year published with the most recently published reports listed first.
Year Published and Title
(1988) GTE Products Corporation, Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Click to open report) In response to a request from the Electronic Components Division of the GTE Products Corporation (SIC-3674), Williamsport, Pennsylvania, an evaluation was made of possible hazardous working conditions resulting from exposure to rosin pyrolysis products, Freon (75456), methylene-chloride (75092), and other chemicals. Workers in the Standard Electronic Module (SEM) assembly and testing area reported dizziness; headache; eye, nose and throat irritation; memory loss and mood changes. Air sampling wa... (Click to show more)In response to a request from the Electronic Components Division of the GTE Products Corporation (SIC-3674), Williamsport, Pennsylvania, an evaluation was made of possible hazardous working conditions resulting from exposure to rosin pyrolysis products, Freon (75456), methylene-chloride (75092), and other chemicals. Workers in the Standard Electronic Module (SEM) assembly and testing area reported dizziness; headache; eye, nose and throat irritation; memory loss and mood changes. Air sampling was conducted for formaldehyde (50000), total aldehydes, carbon-dioxide (124389) (CO2) and carbon- monoxide (630080). Formaldehyde and total aldehydes were below the limits of detection. CO2 concentrations in the solder touchup and wave solder areas ranged from 600 to 1200 parts per million (ppm), suggesting deficiencies in the ventilation system. Medical interviews were conducted with 23 workers; many reported symptoms consistent with exposure to agents with neurotoxic and irritant characteristics. The authors conclude that a potential health hazard existed from inadequate ventilation; chemicals used in the area are capable of precipitating symptoms reported by workers. The authors recommend that measures be taken to reduce or eliminate exposures to methylene-chloride, improve housekeeping and ventilation, and institute medical surveillance. Industrial hygiene monitoring should be continued, and recirculation of exhaust air from the SEM areas should be stopped.
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(1988) McGraw-Edison, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. (Click to open report) In response to a request from OSHA, possible hazardous working conditions at the McGraw-Edison (SIC-3612) facility located in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania were investigated. The company produced large power transformers plus various sizes of power circuit breakers. Exposures to welding fumes, high voltage electricity, paint solvent vapors, noise, and transformer oils were possible. Past exposures to oils containing polychlorinated-biphenyls (1336363), and asbestos (1332214) were possible. A group of... (Click to show more)In response to a request from OSHA, possible hazardous working conditions at the McGraw-Edison (SIC-3612) facility located in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania were investigated. The company produced large power transformers plus various sizes of power circuit breakers. Exposures to welding fumes, high voltage electricity, paint solvent vapors, noise, and transformer oils were possible. Past exposures to oils containing polychlorinated-biphenyls (1336363), and asbestos (1332214) were possible. A group of 58 employees was examined in an attempt to verify possible clustering of cancer cases. Of the original 58, no records were found for three, and 18 individuals had died but had never had cancer. The remaining 37 were all confirmed cancer cases covering 13 different types. An apparent clustering of cancer in recent years was demonstrated. All but one case occurred in white males between the ages of 43 and 69 years. Lung cancer was the most common type, 16 of the 37 cases. The authors conclude that, compared with the general population, lung cancer was occurring probably at no greater rate among these employees than in the general population. No evidence was found to associate causally the number of cancer cases among the workers and any occupational exposures they may have been experiencing at this facility. The authors recommend that a thorough industrial hygiene survey be made at this facility.
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(1988) Office of Employment Security, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. (Click to open report) In response to a request from the Pennsylvania Social Services Union, an evaluation was made of possible hazardous working conditions at the Office of Employment Security (SIC-7361), located in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. Employees had complained of dizziness; coughing; burning of the eyes, nose and throat; recurring respiratory infections; and other symptoms. The 30 employees handled unemployment benefits claims and operated a job placement service. Potential sources of air contaminants in the ... (Click to show more)In response to a request from the Pennsylvania Social Services Union, an evaluation was made of possible hazardous working conditions at the Office of Employment Security (SIC-7361), located in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. Employees had complained of dizziness; coughing; burning of the eyes, nose and throat; recurring respiratory infections; and other symptoms. The 30 employees handled unemployment benefits claims and operated a job placement service. Potential sources of air contaminants in the building included a dry toner type photocopier, fiberglass insulation inside the air supply ductwork, tobacco smoking, cleaning compounds, office furnishings and supplies, and building construction materials. No carbon-monoxide or nitrogen-dioxide levels were detected. No evidence was found to support any causal relationship between work related experiences and the symptoms expressed by the workers. The authors recommend that specific actions be taken to ensure that the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is operating optimally, that parking of vehicles in the alley where the air intakes are located is prevented, and that certain ergonomic recommendations for operators of video display units are adopted to lessen their muscle fatigue and general discomfort.
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(1988) Penreco, Karns City, Pennsylvania. (Click to open report) In response to a request from an official of the Pennzoil Product Company (SIC-2911), located in Karns City, Pennsylvania, an investigation was made of possible hazardous working conditions at this site. An employee in the storeroom building had experienced eye and skin irritation starting in November of 1986 and continuing until May 1987 when his physician suggested he not return to work. Principal products manufactured at this location included white mineral-oil (8012951), ink oil solvents, an... (Click to show more)In response to a request from an official of the Pennzoil Product Company (SIC-2911), located in Karns City, Pennsylvania, an investigation was made of possible hazardous working conditions at this site. An employee in the storeroom building had experienced eye and skin irritation starting in November of 1986 and continuing until May 1987 when his physician suggested he not return to work. Principal products manufactured at this location included white mineral-oil (8012951), ink oil solvents, and petrolatum (8012951). The storeroom was in itself a large building housing various supplies and machine parts including bulk chemicals which were stored in drums or small containers on the floor, in bins, and on shelves. There was usually one storeroom employee and a supervisor in this building. This particular employee had worked in the storeroom for 15 years. His symptoms began during a turnaround at the site when hydroparts from the hydrotreater were kept in the storeroom. The patient was still experiencing recurring eye irritation and dermatitis of the face, arms, and neck. He suffered symptoms while away from the workplace for several days and even months, bringing into question the original premise that the cause was a work related exposure. No success has been obtained in isolating or identifying any environmental cause of these symptoms at his workplace. The author suggests that a ubiquitous environmental trigger may be responsible or that the patient has a medical condition unrelated to known environmental causes.
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(1988) Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center, Bruceton, Pennsylvania. (Click to open report) In response to a request from the Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center (SIC-9199), Bruceton, Pennsylvania, a site visit was made to investigate possible hazardous working conditions resulting from the presence of an odor in the atmosphere. The odors were coming from the vicinity of the women's restroom in building 900A. Air samples were collected for some toxic gases and vapors. Carbon-dioxide (124389) increased from 415 parts per million in the morning to 1000 parts per million in the afternoon,... (Click to show more)In response to a request from the Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center (SIC-9199), Bruceton, Pennsylvania, a site visit was made to investigate possible hazardous working conditions resulting from the presence of an odor in the atmosphere. The odors were coming from the vicinity of the women's restroom in building 900A. Air samples were collected for some toxic gases and vapors. Carbon-dioxide (124389) increased from 415 parts per million in the morning to 1000 parts per million in the afternoon, indicating that there was very little fresh air being introduced into the building through the air handling system. Two soil samples from underneath the building were also taken. Two soil samples revealed a cycloocta form of elemental sulfur, extremely low levels of aliphatic hydrocarbons, and a few phthalate esters. The author concludes that soluble forms of sulfur may have leached out of the soil during rainy or wet periods and oxidizing to produce an odor. The author recommends that water should be redirected away from building 900A, that all foundation vents to this building be open for cross ventilation and that all leaking plumbing fixtures be fixed. Better ventilation should be provided by installing an air handling system at one end of the affected building to supply fresh air and an exhaust system at the other end of the building to assist air flow.
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(1988) Social Security District Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Click to open report) In response to a request from the manager of the District Office of the Social Security Administration (SIC-9441), located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an investigation was made of possible hazardous working conditions at that site. Employees had experienced headaches and nausea perhaps arising from cigarette smoke, kerosene (8008206), and gasoline (8006619) fumes. There were times when both kerosene and gasoline were stored at a gas station next to the office building. Interior carbon-dioxide... (Click to show more)In response to a request from the manager of the District Office of the Social Security Administration (SIC-9441), located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an investigation was made of possible hazardous working conditions at that site. Employees had experienced headaches and nausea perhaps arising from cigarette smoke, kerosene (8008206), and gasoline (8006619) fumes. There were times when both kerosene and gasoline were stored at a gas station next to the office building. Interior carbon-dioxide (124389) (CO2) levels ranged from 800 to 1000 parts per million. Carbon-monoxide levels were negligible. Temperatures ranged from 72 to 77 degrees. Relative humidity ranged from 39 to 50 percent. The authors recommend that the flow rate of all of the air handling units be adjusted to design levels, that air flows from the diffusers also be rebalanced to design levels, that outside air dampers be set to provide a minimum of 910 cubic feet/minute of outside air, that blowers in both heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units be operated continuously, that outside air dampers be set to provide a minimum of 20 cubic feet/minute for the critical space on the system, that some method of supplying a correct amount of outside air for rooms used only periodically be devised, that operating temperatures of the ventilation equipment be corrected, that air from the smoking room not be recirculated to the building, that all return air grilles and registers be cleaned, that access to thermostats and ventilation system controls be limited to qualified personnel, that tanks at the neighboring gas station be filled during hours when the office building is vacant, that some technical adjustments be made to the equipment, and that a complaint system and safety manual be made available to the employees.
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