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HHE Search Results
1062 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
(1987) Wheel Trueing Tool Company, Columbia, South Carolina. (Click to open report) In response to an employee request, an investigation was made of possible exposures to chemicals and metal powders at the Wheel Trueing Tool Company (SIC-353x) in Columbia, South Carolina. Exposures occurred during the manufacturing of diamond studded and diamond impregnated cutting tools. Employees registered complaints of gastrointestinal, neurological, cardiovascular, and respiratory problems along with skin rashes and a metallic taste in their mouths. Four of the 37 air samples collected sho... (Click to show more)In response to an employee request, an investigation was made of possible exposures to chemicals and metal powders at the Wheel Trueing Tool Company (SIC-353x) in Columbia, South Carolina. Exposures occurred during the manufacturing of diamond studded and diamond impregnated cutting tools. Employees registered complaints of gastrointestinal, neurological, cardiovascular, and respiratory problems along with skin rashes and a metallic taste in their mouths. Four of the 37 air samples collected showed cobalt (7440484) levels exceeding the 0.1mg/m3 limit established by OSHA. Most of the handling of loose cobalt containing powders occurred in the production areas. Six samples revealed the presence of nickel (7440020), three of which exceeded the 0.015mg/m3 NIOSH recommended limit. Excessive graphite (7782425) levels were detected in the carbon room with two of three personal exposure samples registering above 10mg/m3. A questionnaire, preshift and postshift pulmonary function tests, and chest x-rays were administered to workers. No evidence of hard metal disease or mixed dust pneumoconiosis was found. The authors conclude that there is a hazard from exposure to cobalt, nickel, and graphite dust. The authors recommend measures to reduce and monitor worker exposures to cobalt and to establish a medical monitoring program for all cobalt exposed workers.
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(1986) (revised), National Starch, Indianapolis, Indiana. (Click to open report) A request for an investigation of pulmonary and cardiovascular disease was received from the National Starch and Chemical Corporation (SIC-2046), Indianapolis, Indiana. In a survey in March 1985, concentrations of hydrochloric-acid (7647010), sulfuric-acid (7664939), sodium-hydroxide (7646697), propylene-oxide (75569), and total and respirable starch dust were all below acceptable limits. In the Wet Mill, samples were taken of sulfur-dioxide (7446095) (SO2) which indicated exposure levels rangin... (Click to show more)A request for an investigation of pulmonary and cardiovascular disease was received from the National Starch and Chemical Corporation (SIC-2046), Indianapolis, Indiana. In a survey in March 1985, concentrations of hydrochloric-acid (7647010), sulfuric-acid (7664939), sodium-hydroxide (7646697), propylene-oxide (75569), and total and respirable starch dust were all below acceptable limits. In the Wet Mill, samples were taken of sulfur-dioxide (7446095) (SO2) which indicated exposure levels ranging from 1.7 to 2.4 parts per million, in excess of the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) of 0.5ppm. Personal area breathing samples for SO2 showed levels of 1.8 to 2.5ppm in October 1985. Upper respiratory irritation occurred in some employees, presumably due to SO2 exposure. The authors conclude that workers at this facility were exposed to sulfur-dioxide concentrations in excess of the NIOSH REL. Recommendations by the authors include installation of effective engineering controls, improved employee work practices, and the use of respiratory protection to decrease SO2 exposure to within acceptable levels. Airborne concentrations of starch should be controlled through proper maintenance of equipment and good housekeeping practices. Comprehensive, annual medical examinations are recommended for all employees exposed to S02.
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(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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