Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs)

(1978) Inland Steel Company, 10 and 14 Inch Merchant Mills, 3210 Waitling Street, East Chicago, Indiana. (Click to open report)
Environmental air sampling and employee interviews were conducted on March 14 to 16, 1978 at Inland Steel Company (SIC-332) in East Chicago, Indiana to evaluate worker exposures to coke oven gas fired furnace emissions, iron-oxide (1309371) lead (7439921). The evaluation was requested by an authorized representative of the United Steelworkers of America, Local 1010, on behalf of approximately 150 affected employees. Personal and area air sample concentrations of nitrogen-dioxide (10102440) and s... (Click to show more) Environmental air sampling and employee interviews were conducted on March 14 to 16, 1978 at Inland Steel Company (SIC-332) in East Chicago, Indiana to evaluate worker exposures to coke oven gas fired furnace emissions, iron-oxide (1309371) lead (7439921). The evaluation was requested by an authorized representative of the United Steelworkers of America, Local 1010, on behalf of approximately 150 affected employees. Personal and area air sample concentrations of nitrogen-dioxide (10102440) and sulfur-dioxide (7446095) were below OSHA standards of 5 parts per million for each substance. One worker was exposed to concentrations of lead in excess of the proposed OSHA standard of 0.1 milligram per cubic meter (mg/m3), and one worker was exposed to excessive concentrations of iron-oxide (OSHA standard is 5mg/m3). Common health complaints among the workers included chest pain, headaches, and eye and throat irritation; these were consistent with sulfur- dioxide exposure. The authors conclude that a hazard exists at this facility due to sulfur-dioxide exposure. Recommendations are provided to reduce exposures through improved work and hygiene practices, changes in ventilation, medical and environmental monitoring, and use of respirators. (Click to show less)
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(1978) Jefferson Chemical Company, Port Neches, Texas. (Click to open report)
An investigation to determine the effects of various chemical exposures on workers was made at the Jefferson Chemical Co. (SIC- 2819) which produces a variety of chemical substances, many of which serve as feedstock to produce the final products. The majority of the substances are produced and handled in closed reactor systems and distillation units. The final products are loaded into tank cars, trucks and drums. General area and personal samples for organic vapors were obtained. Private intervi... (Click to show more) An investigation to determine the effects of various chemical exposures on workers was made at the Jefferson Chemical Co. (SIC- 2819) which produces a variety of chemical substances, many of which serve as feedstock to produce the final products. The majority of the substances are produced and handled in closed reactor systems and distillation units. The final products are loaded into tank cars, trucks and drums. General area and personal samples for organic vapors were obtained. Private interviews with employees selected at random were conducted and nondirected medical questionnaires were compiled. The first aid facilities and medical programs were also reviewed along with selected blood lead (7439921) data. A hazard to the health of laboratory workers did not exist at the time of the surveys as indicated by air sampling results. A potential health hazard existed for workers assigned to the refinery gas feedstock unit, due to benzene (71432) vapor exposures as indicated by air sampling results. A health hazard was not indicated for employees of the ethanolamine (141435) production unit based on the results of the type of air samples obtained. A health hazard was not indicated for employees of the phenol (108952) processing unit based on the results of the type air samples obtained. A determination of potential health hazards was not possible for the Cell Renewal Area due to the operation not being on line at the time of the surveys. A potential health hazard existed for employees of the DDM production unit based on work practice observations and spent catalyst dust analysis. The spent catalyst contained approximately 0.6 percent aniline (62533) and 9 percent diaminodiphenyl-methane (DDM) isomers by weight. The workers were not adequately protected for the catalyst dumping operation. (Click to show less)
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(1978) Mark Steel Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah. (Click to open report)
Environmental surveys were conducted on June 20 and 21, 1978, to evaluate the potential health hazard of an abrasive, made from lead smelter slag, used in the abrasive blasting operation at the Mark Steel Corporation (SIC-3325) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The evaluation was requested by a company representative on behalf of two affected employees. The bulk abrasive grit sample contained less than 1 percent silicon-dioxide (7631869). Three of four respirable dust samples contained no silica and conc... (Click to show more) Environmental surveys were conducted on June 20 and 21, 1978, to evaluate the potential health hazard of an abrasive, made from lead smelter slag, used in the abrasive blasting operation at the Mark Steel Corporation (SIC-3325) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The evaluation was requested by a company representative on behalf of two affected employees. The bulk abrasive grit sample contained less than 1 percent silicon-dioxide (7631869). Three of four respirable dust samples contained no silica and concentrations of respirable dust ranged from 3.4 to 4.7 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3), which were below the OSHA standard of 5.0mg/m3. No cadmium (7440439) was detected in any of the samples. Lead (7439921) concentrations ranged from 0.25 to 2.34mg/m3, exceeding the from 29.0 to 69.1 micrograms per cubic meter, exceeding the 10.0 micrograms per cubic meter OSHA standard. The author concludes that employees working at the abrasive blasting operation are potentially exposed to toxic airborne concentrations of inorganic lead and inorganic arsenic, and that employees may be exposed to excess concentrations of crystalline silica. A substitute grit should be considered, a medical monitoring program should be instituted, and a respiratory protection program should be provided for concerned employees. (Click to show less)
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(1978) N. L. Bearings, Fremont, Nebraska. (Click to open report)
In response to a request from OSHA, NIOSH undertook an assessment of the general health of workers at a railroad bearing foundry during an abatement period. This abatement period was instituted by OSHA while the facility attempted to correct violations of the airborne lead (7439921) standard. At this site both a lead recovery operation and a foundry were operational. Both were housed in one large building which used to be a grain elevator. The finished products were bearings for journal boxes of... (Click to show more) In response to a request from OSHA, NIOSH undertook an assessment of the general health of workers at a railroad bearing foundry during an abatement period. This abatement period was instituted by OSHA while the facility attempted to correct violations of the airborne lead (7439921) standard. At this site both a lead recovery operation and a foundry were operational. Both were housed in one large building which used to be a grain elevator. The finished products were bearings for journal boxes of railroad cars. The lining of these bearings was composed of 87 percent lead, 3 percent tin, and 9 percent antimony. Electric furnaces melted down the scrap metal and reclaimed the lead. A total of 95 workers were screened using a zinc-protoporphyrin (ZPP) test. Fifty two of the men who had worked at high risk jobs or had a ZPP value equal to or greater than 90 microgram percent were examined by history, physical and laboratory tests. Of these, 85 percent had lead levels greater than 40 micrograms per 100 milliliters of blood and over 20 percent had levels greater than 60 micrograms. Thirty five had abnormally elevated blood pressures and a number had abnormalities of the urine and other parameters of renal function including blood urea nitrogen. During a walk through of the facility it appeared that lead or dust possibly containing lead was present in abundance on floors, worktables and clothing of the workers. The authors recommend that housekeeping be improved, that more vigorous lead monitoring and control programs be instituted, that the abatement program be reviewed to see if workers can be given additional protection, and that abnormalities of kidney function and blood pressure be followed up. (Click to show less)
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(1978) New York Telephone Company, New York, New York. (Click to open report)
Breathing zone and personal air samples were analyzed for lead (7439921) (Pb) to determine exposures to New York Telephone Company (SIC-3661) workers engaged in underground operations involving repairs to old telephone cables. An evaluation request came from the Communications Workers of America, Local 1106. The number of affected workers was not specified. All samples were below the OSHA standard of 200 milligrams per cubic meter. The author concludes that there was no health hazard from exposu... (Click to show more) Breathing zone and personal air samples were analyzed for lead (7439921) (Pb) to determine exposures to New York Telephone Company (SIC-3661) workers engaged in underground operations involving repairs to old telephone cables. An evaluation request came from the Communications Workers of America, Local 1106. The number of affected workers was not specified. All samples were below the OSHA standard of 200 milligrams per cubic meter. The author concludes that there was no health hazard from exposure to Pb among the telephone workers. (Click to show less)
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