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HHE Search Results
52 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
(2016) Health hazard evaluation report: evaluation of styrene and dust exposures and health effects during fiberglass-reinforced wind turbine blade manufacturing. (Click to open report) Managers at plant making wind turbine blades asked us to assess exposures to styrene and dust. We also evaluated employees' visual and respiratory health. Employees doing cut and trim tasks were exposed to styrene above exposure limits. Employees doing these tasks inside the blade also exceeded the OSHA limit for dust even though they used powered hand tools with local exhaust ventilation. Employees overexposed to airborne styrene or dust wore respiratory protection. Other plant employees did no... (Click to show more)Managers at plant making wind turbine blades asked us to assess exposures to styrene and dust. We also evaluated employees' visual and respiratory health. Employees doing cut and trim tasks were exposed to styrene above exposure limits. Employees doing these tasks inside the blade also exceeded the OSHA limit for dust even though they used powered hand tools with local exhaust ventilation. Employees overexposed to airborne styrene or dust wore respiratory protection. Other plant employees did not always wear respirators when needed. In some cases, respirators were not stored away from contamination. Urinary styrene metabolites were lower than exposure limits. Employees had more color blindness than expected. Contrast vision problems were related to current and long-term styrene exposure. Employees exposed to higher levels of styrene had more breathing problems than expected. We recommended changes to the blade manufacturing process to reduce styrene exposures. For annual employee medical exams, we recommended vision testing and spirometry.
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(2016) Health hazard evaluation report: investigation of dermal and respiratory exposures to metalworking fluids at an automotive parts manufacturer. (Click to open report) The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from a manager at an automotive engine water pump manufacturer. The manufacturer produced diesel engine water pumps by machining cast iron with a soluble oil metalworking fluid. The manager submitted the request because employees had respiratory problems, dermatitis, and gastrointestinal problems they felt may be related to metalworking fluid exposure. During our visits, we asked employees about their medical and work histories, examined em... (Click to show more)The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from a manager at an automotive engine water pump manufacturer. The manufacturer produced diesel engine water pumps by machining cast iron with a soluble oil metalworking fluid. The manager submitted the request because employees had respiratory problems, dermatitis, and gastrointestinal problems they felt may be related to metalworking fluid exposure. During our visits, we asked employees about their medical and work histories, examined employees' rashes, and reviewed employee medical records. We also asked them to fill out a questionnaire about work exposures and symptoms. We took air samples for metalworking fluid mist, formaldehyde, and endotoxin. Investigators found that current and former machine operators reported respiratory and skin symptoms consistent with work-related exposure to metalworking fluid, both before and after ventilation improvements were made at this plant. Most machine operators were exposed to formaldehyde above the NIOSH limit. No employees were overexposed to metalworking fluid mist after the company improved ventilation and added splash shields to the compressed air guns. Machine operators had brief, high exposures to metalworking fluid mist when they blew parts off with compressed air. The endotoxin concentrations in bulk metalworking fluid were generally lower than those reported in the scientific literature for other facilities using similar types of metalworking fluid. We recommended the company continue improving metalworking fluid management practices, and train employees about the health hazards of metalworking fluid and ways to reduce or prevent exposure.
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