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HHE Search Results
1060 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
(1986) American Crystal Sugar Co., Crookston, Minnesota. (Click to open report) Employee exposures to airborne contaminants during sugar beet processing and to welding fumes during facility maintenance were evaluated at a sugar beet mill (SIC-2063) owned by the American Crystal Sugar Company (ACSCO), in response to a request from ACSCO's management and the American Federation of Grain Millers International Union. Sugar processing operations involved approximately 375 workers, and maintenance included about 175 of these workers. During beet processing, personal breathing zon... (Click to show more)Employee exposures to airborne contaminants during sugar beet processing and to welding fumes during facility maintenance were evaluated at a sugar beet mill (SIC-2063) owned by the American Crystal Sugar Company (ACSCO), in response to a request from ACSCO's management and the American Federation of Grain Millers International Union. Sugar processing operations involved approximately 375 workers, and maintenance included about 175 of these workers. During beet processing, personal breathing zone and general air samples were collected and analyzed for several chemicals and total and respirable particulates of various dusts. Welding fumes were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma/atomic emission spectroscopy of personal filter samples. The following exposures were considered excessive by the most stringent criteria: lime kiln helper to total particulates (9.6 and 11.2mg/m3), Weibul storage bin housekeeper to sugar dust (13.4mg/m3), diffuser operator and charger to formaldehyde (50000) (0.05 to 0.09mg/m3), and welders and cutters to total welding fumes (2.3 to 84mg/m3) and specific metals, particularly hexavalent chromium (18540299) (0.003 to air and settled dust samples contained crystalline silica (14808607), representing a potential hazard. Recommendations include improved particulate containment and ventilation, use of respirators where appropriate, and formaldehyde replacement.
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(1986) American Crystal Sugar Company, Drayton, North Dakota. (Click to open report) Employee exposures to airborne contaminants during sugar beet processing and to welding fumes during facility maintenance were evaluated at a sugar beet mill (SIC-2063) owned by the American Crystal Sugar Company (ACSCO), in response to a request from the American Federation of Grain Millers International Union and ACSCO's management. Sugar processing operations involved approximately 370 workers, and welding potentially exposed ten to 15 workers. Personal and general air samples were collected ... (Click to show more)Employee exposures to airborne contaminants during sugar beet processing and to welding fumes during facility maintenance were evaluated at a sugar beet mill (SIC-2063) owned by the American Crystal Sugar Company (ACSCO), in response to a request from the American Federation of Grain Millers International Union and ACSCO's management. Sugar processing operations involved approximately 370 workers, and welding potentially exposed ten to 15 workers. Personal and general air samples were collected and analyzed for several chemicals, total and respirable dusts, and metals and welding fumes. Methods included gravimetric analysis, chromatography, spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Exposures in excess of the most stringent criteria were found for calcium-oxide (1305788), coal dust, crystalline silica (14808607), sugar dust, and formaldehyde (50000). Areas of greatest exposure included lime kiln operation, coal handling, and storage bin housekeeping. The latter was only an area of potential exposure, since workers wore dust respirators. Detectable formaldehyde levels in general air represented a possible carcinogenic risk. Presence of silica in bulk samples presented a potential risk of silicosis. Exposures to total welding fumes and metals exceeded stringent criteria in two thirds of samples. Potential cancer risks included hexavalent chromium (18540299) and nickel (7440020). Recommendations include use of respiratory protection, dust and fume containment, and formaldehyde replacement.
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(1986) American Crystal Sugar Company, East Grand Forks, Minnesota. (Click to open report) Following a request from the American Federation of Grain Millers International Union and management of the American Crystal Sugar Company (ACSCO), employee exposures to airborne contaminants during beet processing and welding fumes during facility maintenance were determined at a sugar beet mill (SIC-2063) owned by ACSCO. Beet processing involved 680 workers, and welding exposed a potential ten to 15 workers to metal fumes. Personal and general air samples were analyzed for chemicals and total ... (Click to show more)Following a request from the American Federation of Grain Millers International Union and management of the American Crystal Sugar Company (ACSCO), employee exposures to airborne contaminants during beet processing and welding fumes during facility maintenance were determined at a sugar beet mill (SIC-2063) owned by ACSCO. Beet processing involved 680 workers, and welding exposed a potential ten to 15 workers to metal fumes. Personal and general air samples were analyzed for chemicals and total and respirable dusts, and total welding fumes and metals were analyzed from personal samples. Analytical methods included chromatography, spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and gravimetry. Exposures in excess of the most stringent criteria were found for calcium-oxide (1305788) and calcium-carbonate (471341) in lime kiln workers, sugar dust in sugar bin workers, insoluble hexavalent chromium (18540299) and nickel (7440020) during welding, total welding fumes in one case, and nickel during a metal coating spray process. Quartz (14808607) was found in several settled dust samples and high volume air samples. Nickel and chromium exposures presented potential cancer risks. The authors conclude that workers were overexposed to calcium-oxide, calcium-carbonate, sugar dust, total welding fumes, hexavalent chromium and nickel at this facility. Recommendations include particulate containment, ventilation, and respiratory protection where appropriate.
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(1986) American Crystal Sugar Company, Hillsboro, North Dakota. (Click to open report) In response to a request from management of the American Crystal Sugar Company (ACSCO) and the American Federation of Grain Millers International Union, employee exposures to welding fumes during facility maintenance and to airborne contaminants during beet processing were determined at a sugar beet mill (SIC-2063) owned by ACSCO. Beet processing involved 230 workers, while approximately ten to 15 workers were potentially exposed to welding fumes. General air and personal samples were analyzed f... (Click to show more)In response to a request from management of the American Crystal Sugar Company (ACSCO) and the American Federation of Grain Millers International Union, employee exposures to welding fumes during facility maintenance and to airborne contaminants during beet processing were determined at a sugar beet mill (SIC-2063) owned by ACSCO. Beet processing involved 230 workers, while approximately ten to 15 workers were potentially exposed to welding fumes. General air and personal samples were analyzed for total and respirable dusts and various chemicals, and personal filters were analyzed for welding fumes. Analytical methods included X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, chromatography, and gravimetry. Quartz (14808607) was found in high volume air samples and settled dust. Exposures exceeding the most stringent environmental criteria were found for calcium-carbonate (471341) and carbon-monoxide (630080) in lime kiln workers and sugar dust in sugar bin workers. Beet pulp dust was considered a potential hazard based on its content of crystalline silica. Welding produced excessive exposures to total welding fumes, hexavalent chromium (18540299), nickel (7440020), iron-oxide (1332372), and calcium-oxide (1305788). Chromium and nickel posed potential cancer risks. The authors conclude that workers were overexposed to calcium-carbonate, carbon-monoxide, sugar dust, total welding fumes, hexavalent chromium, iron-oxide, nickel, and calcium- oxide fumes at this facility. The authors recommend dust containment, ventilation, respiratory protection, and correction of slipping hazards.
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(1986) American Crystal Sugar Company, Moorhead, Minnesota. (Click to open report) A sugar beet mill (SIC-2063) owned by the American Crystal Sugar Company (ACSCO) was evaluated for worker exposure to airborne contaminants during beet processing and welding fumes during facility maintenance, following a request from ACSCO management and the American Federation of Grain Millers International Union. Beet processing involved approximately 690 workers, while maintenance involved approximately 300 of these workers. Total and respirable dusts were measured in personal and general ai... (Click to show more)A sugar beet mill (SIC-2063) owned by the American Crystal Sugar Company (ACSCO) was evaluated for worker exposure to airborne contaminants during beet processing and welding fumes during facility maintenance, following a request from ACSCO management and the American Federation of Grain Millers International Union. Beet processing involved approximately 690 workers, while maintenance involved approximately 300 of these workers. Total and respirable dusts were measured in personal and general air samples, and personal welding filter samples were analyzed. Analytical methods included spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, gravimetry, and chromatography. Quartz (14808607) was detected in settled dust and high volume air samples; beet pulp was considered to be a potential health risk. Exposures in excess of the most stringent environmental criteria were found for calcium-oxide (1305788) in lime kiln workers, formaldehyde (50000) in diffuser area workers, and total welding fumes, nickel (7440020), and iron-oxide (1332372) during welding operations. Exposures to nickel and formaldehyde presented potential cancer risks. Interference prevented analysis of hexavalent chromium (18540299), but the authors expect that it would be elevated. The authors recommend formaldehyde replacement, particulate containment, ventilation improvement, and use of appropriate respiratory protection.
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(1986) Champion DairyPak, Morristown, New Jersey. (Click to open report) A walkthrough evaluation and worker interviews were carried out on August 7, 1985 at Champion DairyPak (SIC-2654) Morristown, New Jersey. The evaluation was requested by UAW Local 260 to investigate health hazards at the facility. Approximately 135 workers are employed on three shifts printing and folding plastic impregnated cartons used for dairy products. The primary potential exposures at Champion DairyPak are considered to be noise, solvents and polyethylene (9002884) dust. Fifteen workers o... (Click to show more)A walkthrough evaluation and worker interviews were carried out on August 7, 1985 at Champion DairyPak (SIC-2654) Morristown, New Jersey. The evaluation was requested by UAW Local 260 to investigate health hazards at the facility. Approximately 135 workers are employed on three shifts printing and folding plastic impregnated cartons used for dairy products. The primary potential exposures at Champion DairyPak are considered to be noise, solvents and polyethylene (9002884) dust. Fifteen workers on the first shift were questioned concerning respiratory symptoms that might be related to dust exposure; four reported symptoms associated with an irritant dust during sealing machine clean up procedures. The noise problem was evaluated by the company, and a hearing conservation program is in place. The company had previously replaced the solvent 2-ethoxyethanol (110805) with propylene-glycol-monomethyl- ether (107982) to reduce potential health risks of exposure. The authors concluded that minimal health hazards exist at Champion DairyPak due to exposure to dusts from the sealing machines and solvents in the printing process. Recommendations are made to reduce exposures to solvents and dusts, and to reduce noise levels in the facility.
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(1986) Champion International, Frenchtown, Montana. (Click to open report) Possible exposures to crystalline silica, lead (7439921), and total particulates were reviewed at Champion International (SIC-2621), Frenchtown, Montana, in response to a request by the Hellgate Local 885 of the United Paperworkers International Union. The hog fuel and waste fuel boilers were the areas of specific concern at this paper mill. Breathing zone samples collected for nine locations were found to be below the evaluation criteria for crystalline silica and total particulate contents. Re... (Click to show more)Possible exposures to crystalline silica, lead (7439921), and total particulates were reviewed at Champion International (SIC-2621), Frenchtown, Montana, in response to a request by the Hellgate Local 885 of the United Paperworkers International Union. The hog fuel and waste fuel boilers were the areas of specific concern at this paper mill. Breathing zone samples collected for nine locations were found to be below the evaluation criteria for crystalline silica and total particulate contents. Respirable silica was present at 0.02mg/m3 at its highest concentration. Results of the bulk analyses showed that the workers were exposed to material containing only 3.1 percent quartz (14808607) and less than 0.75 percent cristobalite, suggesting no hazard from crystalline silica. Respirable particulate concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 11.0, with a average concentration of 4.12mg/m3. Lead and chromium (7440473) were below the detection limit. A bulk sample of gasket material was 50 to 60 percent chrysotile (12001295) asbestos. The author concludes that a potential health hazard existed from exposure to total dust in the boiler area, and from installation of asbestos gasket material. Workers involved in handling the gasket material should be advised that it is made of asbestos and to take the required safety precautions. The asbestos gasket material should be replaced by some less hazardous material.
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(1986) City of Columbus Refuse Derived Fuel Power Plant, Columbus, Ohio. (Click to open report) As a result of a request from the City of Columbus, Ohio, potential for heat stress along with exposure to chemical contaminants and airborne microbial pollutants was investigated at the city refuse derived fuel powerplant (SIC-4931, SIC-4953). Health hazards existed from lead (7439921) and silica exposures for workers involved in handling ash. Low levels of exposure to chromium (7440473), chromium-VI, cadmium (7440439), and nickel (7440020) were noted. Excessive heat stress occurred during the ... (Click to show more)As a result of a request from the City of Columbus, Ohio, potential for heat stress along with exposure to chemical contaminants and airborne microbial pollutants was investigated at the city refuse derived fuel powerplant (SIC-4931, SIC-4953). Health hazards existed from lead (7439921) and silica exposures for workers involved in handling ash. Low levels of exposure to chromium (7440473), chromium-VI, cadmium (7440439), and nickel (7440020) were noted. Excessive heat stress occurred during the maintenance activities in hot areas of the facility. Airborne microbial contamination levels in the refuse handling areas indicated that exposure hazards existed by both the inhalation and ingestion routes. Human pathogens may be present in the microbial pollutants. The author recommends that the use of engineering controls be instituted to lessen the exposure of employees to lead. In the power plant area and in the refuse handling area, eating, drinking, and the carrying or use of tobacco products or cosmetics should be prohibited. Use of dry sweeping or compressed air cleaning of surfaces to remove dust must be discontinued. Vacuuming or wet removal of dust particles should be used instead. At material transfer points, where dust exposure can be a real problem, it is recommended that enclosures be built. Single use disposable dust respirators are not recommended. Recommended methods for controlling heat stress include modification of environmental heat exchange components, work schedule modifications, protective clothing, worker education, and preplacement and periodic medical surveillance.
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(1986) Colorado River Agency, Parker, Arizona. (Click to open report) A representative of the National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 422 requested a study be made of skin problems being experienced by several employees of the Colorado River Agency (SIC- 4911) which might be linked to transformer oil or polychlorinated biphenyl (1336363) (PCB) exposures. Out of service transformers have been stored at the Agency which has operated as a power yard since the 1930's. Old transformer oil was being used as a spray to control dust in the yard at the Agency in 19... (Click to show more)A representative of the National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 422 requested a study be made of skin problems being experienced by several employees of the Colorado River Agency (SIC- 4911) which might be linked to transformer oil or polychlorinated biphenyl (1336363) (PCB) exposures. Out of service transformers have been stored at the Agency which has operated as a power yard since the 1930's. Old transformer oil was being used as a spray to control dust in the yard at the Agency in 1982 until it was learned that it might contain PCBs. No oil samples contained PCBs, but samples of sprayed soil in 1982 contained 79ppm PCBs in 1982. Contaminated transformers and accessories were removed from the yard. Several air samples were collected in April of 1986 along with wipe samples. Bulk soil samples were also taken. According to the authors, no airborne exposures to PCBs could be documented but there was contamination of vehicles used to handle the transformers as determined by the wipe samples. Bulk soil samples indicated contamination of the yard, particularly at a low spot in the yard. The authors recommend that vehicles be wiped down with kerosene to obtain thorough decontamination and then the kerosene be disposed of as contaminated material.
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(1986) Continental Coffee Products Company, Houston, Texas. (Click to open report) The International Chemical Workers Union requested an evaluation be made of the health status of employees at the Continental Coffee Products Company (SIC-209S), Houston, Texas with particular attention given to potential exposure to pesticide residues on imported coffee beans. Analysis of air samples revealed the following concentration ranges: 29 personal respirable dust samples ranging from 0.03 to 2.03 milligrams/cubic meter (mg/m3); 27 of 28 personal total dust samples, 0.09 to 2.65 mg/m3; ... (Click to show more)The International Chemical Workers Union requested an evaluation be made of the health status of employees at the Continental Coffee Products Company (SIC-209S), Houston, Texas with particular attention given to potential exposure to pesticide residues on imported coffee beans. Analysis of air samples revealed the following concentration ranges: 29 personal respirable dust samples ranging from 0.03 to 2.03 milligrams/cubic meter (mg/m3); 27 of 28 personal total dust samples, 0.09 to 2.65 mg/m3; four area respirable dust samples, 0.11 to 0.53 mg/m3; and four area total dust samples, 0.16 to 2.39 mg/m3. Pesticide exposures were significantly below acceptable daily intakes. Of the 147 employees, 132 returned completed questionnaires. Employees with the greatest potential for exposure to coffee and tea dust reported acute irritant symptoms two to four times as frequently as others. The authors conclude that it would not be expected that employees would be exposed to pesticide levels posing an appreciable threat to health. There appears to be an increase in acute irritant (possible allergenic) symptoms in workers with the greatest potential for exposure to organic dusts. Recommendations were made to increase the use of local exhaust ventilation; to improve work practices to reduce generation of dust and accumulation; to increase ventilation in the basement re-mix operation; and train employees toward the understanding of potential hazards and their role in controlling dust.
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