Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs)

(1973) Fortune Industries, Chelsea, Michigan. (Click to open report)
Environmental samples for airborne silica containing dusts are collected at seven different job areas involved in making abrasive chips, 18 samples for total dust and 16 samples for respirable dust. The substances evaluated include aluminum-oxide (1344281), silicon carbide, iron-oxide (1332372), quartz (14808607), and tremolite (14567738), and the standard concentration is given for each substance. The physical agent evaluated, noise, has a standard level of 90 decibels. The silica (7631869) dus... (Click to show more) Environmental samples for airborne silica containing dusts are collected at seven different job areas involved in making abrasive chips, 18 samples for total dust and 16 samples for respirable dust. The substances evaluated include aluminum-oxide (1344281), silicon carbide, iron-oxide (1332372), quartz (14808607), and tremolite (14567738), and the standard concentration is given for each substance. The physical agent evaluated, noise, has a standard level of 90 decibels. The silica (7631869) dust levels are found to exceed the Federal silica standard in the aluminum oxide separation area, inspection and boxing area, material handling area, special refracting area, and batch-mixing area. The tremolite concentrations exceed the standard in the batch mix area. No radiographic or other evidence is found for any serious respiratory problem from the dusts, although much dust is found accumulated in workers' nose at the end of the day. Recommendations include replacement of tremolite by a non-fibrous material; installation of a local exhaust system on the vibrating screens and hoppers, improved housekeeping, provision of respirators and ear protectors, periodic medical examination, and introduction of a hearing correction program. (Click to show less)
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(1973) Hanford Foundry, San Bernardino, California. (Click to open report)
Environmental measurements in the breathing zone of welders and employee interviews and urinalysis for fluorides indicate that no actual health hazard exists from exposure to welding exhaust gases at a foundry facility producing corrosion and heat-resistant high alloy castings. A potential health hazard is considered to exist from exposure to welding fumes, especially of alloys containing a high percentage of chromium (7440473) and nickel. Data are given for the concentrations of iron oxide, nic... (Click to show more) Environmental measurements in the breathing zone of welders and employee interviews and urinalysis for fluorides indicate that no actual health hazard exists from exposure to welding exhaust gases at a foundry facility producing corrosion and heat-resistant high alloy castings. A potential health hazard is considered to exist from exposure to welding fumes, especially of alloys containing a high percentage of chromium (7440473) and nickel. Data are given for the concentrations of iron oxide, nickel (7440020), chromium, manganese (7439965), and molybdenum (7439987) in the air. (Click to show less)
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(1973) Mobil Oil Corporation, Augusta, Kansas. (Click to open report)
Evaluation of hazards from exposures to asbestos (1332214) dust and hot environments relevant to an oil refinery's requirement for insulators' wearing of special clothing. Survey of insulators does not indicate any symptoms attributable to overexposure to asbestos, although wearing of paper coveralls over personal clothes contributes somewhat to the problem of heat exposure. Asbestos is not found toxic at the concentrations used and found in the insulators' working operation. The toxic effects o... (Click to show more) Evaluation of hazards from exposures to asbestos (1332214) dust and hot environments relevant to an oil refinery's requirement for insulators' wearing of special clothing. Survey of insulators does not indicate any symptoms attributable to overexposure to asbestos, although wearing of paper coveralls over personal clothes contributes somewhat to the problem of heat exposure. Asbestos is not found toxic at the concentrations used and found in the insulators' working operation. The toxic effects of prolonged inhalation of asbestos include pulmonary fibrosis and asbestosis, respiratory insufficiency, and cardiac failure. Physical agents include: hot environments which create heat fatigue characterized by decreased ability to concentrate, tiredness, and irritability, heat collapse, exhaustion, or syncope. Recommendations include adherence to the Federal rules and NIOSH standards relating to exposures to hot environments, and provision of cloth coveralls instead of paper coveralls, and laundering services. (Click to show less)
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(1973) N. L. Industries, Inc. Titanium Pigment Division St. Louis, Missouri. (Click to open report)
Environmental survey and medical evaluation of workers in a plant producing titanium dioxide pigment from ilmenite ore, involving various ore dressing techniques, including digestion, bleaching, washing, calcining, and milling. Monoisopropanolamine or MIPA and triethanolamine or TEA had been found to cause dermatitis in use prior to the inspection; titanium dioxide dust levels are found to be below standard limits. No pulmonary or noncutaneous health problems are identified. Noise levels are fou... (Click to show more) Environmental survey and medical evaluation of workers in a plant producing titanium dioxide pigment from ilmenite ore, involving various ore dressing techniques, including digestion, bleaching, washing, calcining, and milling. Monoisopropanolamine or MIPA and triethanolamine or TEA had been found to cause dermatitis in use prior to the inspection; titanium dioxide dust levels are found to be below standard limits. No pulmonary or noncutaneous health problems are identified. Noise levels are found to exceed standard limits. Recommendations are made for use of protective clothing if use of MIPA or TEA is reintroduced, complete implementation of a hearing conservation program, preventive maintenance program for filters, use of vacuum equipment for precluding airborne dust, and use of respirators for inert dusts and nuisance dusts. (Click to show less)
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(1973) PPG Industries, Inc., Clarksburg, West Virginia. (Click to open report)
Air sampling and medical evaluation performed at a glass cutting and packaging operation reveals that salicylic dust, a component of Polytek glass used in the process, is toxic at the concentration used or found, causing acute irritation of the eyes, nose and throat of the workers exposed. Air concentration levels of 0.08 mg per cubic meter of salicylic-acid (69727) does not cause significant blood levels of the compound, but it does induce symptoms. Limited evaluation of the new Polytek dispens... (Click to show more) Air sampling and medical evaluation performed at a glass cutting and packaging operation reveals that salicylic dust, a component of Polytek glass used in the process, is toxic at the concentration used or found, causing acute irritation of the eyes, nose and throat of the workers exposed. Air concentration levels of 0.08 mg per cubic meter of salicylic-acid (69727) does not cause significant blood levels of the compound, but it does induce symptoms. Limited evaluation of the new Polytek dispenser operation has shown a significant reduction in symptomatology. (Click to show less)
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