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HHE Search Results
477 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
(2005) Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, Montpelier, Vermont. (Click to open report) The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request in 1998 from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) to evaluate worker exposures to lead-contaminated dust and the dispersion of dust to surroundings associated with exterior paint removal and surface preparation. The VHCB arranged a demonstration project that included three paint removal/surface preparation methods performed by a Vermont licensed lead abatement contractor. The objective was to determ... (Click to show more)The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request in 1998 from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) to evaluate worker exposures to lead-contaminated dust and the dispersion of dust to surroundings associated with exterior paint removal and surface preparation. The VHCB arranged a demonstration project that included three paint removal/surface preparation methods performed by a Vermont licensed lead abatement contractor. The objective was to determine which method produced the least amount of dust exposure and dispersion. A NIOSH site visit was made in August 1998; the sampling results were provided to the VHCB in 1999. During the demonstration project workers removed exterior lead-based paint from clapboard siding of a single- family wood-frame house using three methods: dry scraping with manual sanding, wet scraping with manual sanding, and dry scraping with power sanding. NIOSH investigators conducted task-based sampling during four trials per method. Trials took place on different sections of the painted siding. Samples collected during each were for personal breathing zone (PBZ) and area airborne lead (PbA) (both NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods [NMAM] Method 7105), lead in paint, and lead in the dispersed surface dust (PbS). PbS samples were collected using stationary dustfall collectors, each containing a clean unfolded pre-moistened hand wipe (Wash n' Dri) centered in the tray. Eight PbS samples were collected in two rows on the ground at zero, 6, 10, and 20 feet perpendicular to the siding. The mean lead concentration measured in painted surfaces was 18.7% (range for section means 4.8%- 27%). The highest PBZ PbA exposures were measured during dry scraping/power sanding with an improperly functioning (80%-blocked) HEPA vacuum dust collection system: 820 and 1600 micrograms per cubic meter (microg/m3) as task-based time-weighted averages (TWA) over 1-2 hours. PBZ PbA concentrations during dry scraping/manual sanding were lower, ranging from 29 to 160 microg/m3, and dry scraping/power sanding with a properly functioning HEPA vacuum system and wet scraping/manual sanding produced the lowest PBZ PbA results, ranging from 3.5 to 53 microg/m3, task-based TWA. The area PbA results at 10 ft from the work surfaces were low, ranging from 0.16 to 8.2 microg/m3. For all three methods, mean concentrations of PbS measured on the ground at zero ft and 6 ft from the house foundation ranged from 1300 to 7,600,000 microg/f2. After statistically controlling for distance, method, paint Pb concentration and the percent paint removed from substrate in a linear model, distance was significantly associated with PbS (p-value= < 0.0001). NIOSH investigators found that worker exposures to lead during dry scraping/power sanding without functional dust collection controls were a health hazard. Worker exposures during wet scraping/manual sanding were relatively low, but could be a health hazard if the activity is performed 8 hours or more. After paint removal, high concentrations of lead in settled dust were found at distances of zero to 10 ft from the work surfaces. Recommendations included (1) use effective engineering controls on power sanding equipment to limit lead dust exposure and dust dispersion to surroundings; (2) use respirators to reduce worker exposure to lead dust during dry scraping and power sanding until engineering and/or administrative controls are effective in reducing exposures below the OSHA PEL; and (3) use good hygiene practices.
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(2005) West Virginia University, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, West Virginia. (Click to open report) The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request from the Health and Safety Manager at West Virginia University, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center in Morgantown, West Virginia, to conduct an indoor air quality investigation in the Student Health Services employee office area. Employees had expressed concerns about the air quality including the possibility that exposure to photographic chemicals leaking into the office space from the area above might have ... (Click to show more)The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request from the Health and Safety Manager at West Virginia University, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center in Morgantown, West Virginia, to conduct an indoor air quality investigation in the Student Health Services employee office area. Employees had expressed concerns about the air quality including the possibility that exposure to photographic chemicals leaking into the office space from the area above might have caused health effects experienced by employees. Primary health concerns were asthma and other respiratory health problems. The NIOSH response consisted of numerous phone interviews with the requester to gather information, two site visits, and review of material safety data sheets and other information. During the first site visit on September 22, 2004, the industrial hygienist visually inspected the premises and interviewed the Health and Safety Manager. Evidence of previous water incursion in several offices and in one of the clinical exam rooms was observed. Prior to the NIOSH site visit the facilities management staff had investigated the drainage system and identified a downspout that directed storm water to the basement wall. The drainage was corrected and no further water incursion was reported. Other evidence of water incursion was subsurface lifting of the floors which had lead to substantial unevenness of the floors in the hallway and two offices. This was attributed to water incursion below the building that had caused swelling of the natural shale deposits. The second site visit was conducted on November 18, 2004, and included a similar visual inspection of the interior spaces along with the heating and ventilation (HVAC) systems. The second visit also included real-time monitoring of temperature, relative humidity, and concentrations of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the Student Health Service employee office area where respiratory problems have been reported and in the clinic area where there have been no complaints. Investigation of the two HVAC systems that service the Student Health Service revealed that no outside air was being introduced into the ventilation system. There was indication of continued leaks from the mammography film developer located on the floor above one of the offices. Results of the real-time monitoring found that carbon dioxide concentrations exceeded recommended levels in the employee office area when the building was occupied. NIOSH conducted two site visits to the West Virginia University, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, Student Health Services area in Morgantown, West Virginia, to address management concerns about the quality of the indoor air and health effects the employees were experiencing. Areas of previous or ongoing water incursion were found although no mold was observed. Measurements indicated that the office area had elevated levels of carbon dioxide and that changes to the ventilation system were necessary to ensure that adequate fresh air was provided to the occupants.
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(2004) Alameda County Public Authority for In-Home Support Services, Alameda, California. (Click to open report) On January 19, 2001, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request from the Alameda County Public Authority (PA) for In-Home Supportive Services and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) local 616 to evaluate working conditions and make recommendations regarding the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders and other safety and health problems among the approximately 10,000 publicly funded homecare workers (HCWs) in Alameda County, California who a... (Click to show more)On January 19, 2001, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request from the Alameda County Public Authority (PA) for In-Home Supportive Services and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) local 616 to evaluate working conditions and make recommendations regarding the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders and other safety and health problems among the approximately 10,000 publicly funded homecare workers (HCWs) in Alameda County, California who are represented by SEIU. Alameda County, like all of the California In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) HCW, uses a consumer directed model in which the recipient of the home care services recruits, hires, trains, directs, and fires their own workers. Because of the unique nature of a consumer directed service model, the PA and SEIU asked NIOSH to evaluate the health and safety issues of HCWs in Alameda County. The evaluation utilized multilingual HCW focus groups, key informant interviews, analysis of injury data and an in-home site visit. Findings indicated that housekeeping tasks were as physically demanding to workers as client lifting and transfer tasks, that workers largely did not have adequate tools and equipment to complete their required tasks, and that most consumers' homes were not equipped and/or configured to allow for efficient delivery of needed services. The evaluation also found that most HCWs had little or no formal training on how to safely perform home care tasks prior to beginning work and few opportunities existed for in-service training during employment. Interviews with individuals and groups involved with homecare in the Alameda County area, consumers, consumer groups, and IHSS social workers indicated that there were additional problems with the consumer-client relationship, such as the lack of a clear understanding of whose responsibility it was to provide for the safety and health of the HCW, and lack of a clear definition of what a HCW was required to do for their consumer. In general, it was found that there was poor communication between consumers and HCWs, and inadequate means for resolving disputes that arose. Recommendations were made for the establishment of a comprehensive safety and health program that could be overseen by a union and management joint committee. NIOSH investigators conclude that the current program for delivering consumer-directed home care services in Alameda County could lead to health and safety problems for homecare workers. Lack of training, inadequate resources, and poor communication between consumers and caregivers contributes to health risks. Recommendations to improve safety and health for home care workers are contained in this report.
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(2004) Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, Missoula, Montana. (Click to open report) In March 2001, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for technical assistance (HETA 2001-0209) from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding dermatitis among employees at Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation ("Smurfit"), a paper-production plant in Missoula, Montana. During an OSHA inspection at the plant, the OSHA inspector learned that over 60 employees had experienced a "skin ailment" over the previous two years. A NIOSH ... (Click to show more)In March 2001, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for technical assistance (HETA 2001-0209) from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding dermatitis among employees at Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation ("Smurfit"), a paper-production plant in Missoula, Montana. During an OSHA inspection at the plant, the OSHA inspector learned that over 60 employees had experienced a "skin ailment" over the previous two years. A NIOSH site visit was conducted in April 2001 to assist OSHA in determining the role of occupational exposures in the skin diseases. At that time, 14 of 25 employees interviewed and examined had rashes; at least nine of these appeared consistent with occupational contact dermatitis. HETA 2001-0209 was closed with a letter to OSHA (Appendix A) on July 11, 2001, concluding that there was evidence of work-related dermatitis among Smurfit workers. On June 13, 2001, NIOSH received a health hazard evaluation (HHE) request from the Paper, Allied Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers Local 8-0885 to further evaluate specific exposures at the Smurfit paper mill to determine the source of the dermatitis. To assess workers' exposures, bulk samples of pulp, paper, and white-water were collected from various locations throughout the paper manufacturing process. Samples were analyzed for various chemicals (biocide and naturally occurring compounds), metals, and biological organisms (mold/fungi and bacteria) that could possibly account for the rash. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographics, skin problems, job tasks, work history, and the work environment for all employees. Workers who indicated they had a rash on the day they completed the questionnaire and agreed to have their skin examined were examined by the NIOSH dermatologist. Three hundred fifty-four out of four hundred seven employees (89%) completed the questionnaire. Forty-three workers fit the case definition of having a chronic rash (i.e., having a high recurrence or continual rash). Forty workers fit the case definition of having work-related current rashes which were clinically consistent with either dermatitis and/or folliculitis. The questionnaire and skin examinations did not reveal a single type of skin problem but rather a variety of problems. Analysis of the questionnaire data showed a weak but statistically significant association between chronic rash and not always laundering work clothes (prevalence ratio 2.0 [confidence interval1.1-3.8]) and washing hands more than four times per day (prevalence ratio 1.9 [confidence interval1.1-3.2]). Most areas of the plant had workers with chronic rash, which was not associated with any specific area of the plant. There was a statistically significant association of a previous history of eczema and chronic rash (prevalence ratio 4.4 [confidence interval 2.5 to 7.9]) although the number of workers with previous eczema was relatively small. Chemical and metal analysis of the bulk materials did not identify any single compound in any substantial amount which we suspect would account for the reported dermal ailments. Mostly, trace amounts of typical biocide by-products and natural occurring compounds (e.g., pinene and resin acids) were found. Metals found in the pulp, paper, and white-water samples were found in the source water in similar concentrations and not of concern regarding skin problems. Results of the microbial analyses were unremarkable except in one sample, which contained Pseudomonas aeruginosa a secondary infectious agent of the skin. Coliforms, however, were present in some samples which indicate that pathogens (some are associated with skin ailments) may be present in the pulp even though they were not found in the NIOSH evaluation. In addition, during the initial site visit, a potential heat stress problem was identified in the rewinder area which could lead to excessive sweating and ultimately cause skin damage. Also, glass fibers were found in two bulk samples collected from the same area which is associated with dermatitis. A health hazard was identified at the Smurfit pulp and paper plant in Missoula, Montana. Approximately 11% of the workers had dermatitis or folliculitis. A single definitive etiologic agent was not identified. However, exposure to pulp, white-water, and/or finished paper alone or in combination with resin acids, dust, biocides, glass fibers, and heat may play a role in the skin problems. Based on the information gathered during multiple site visits, we recommend decreasing workers= exposures to the pulp and white-water. Controls such as elimination of potential sources of pathogens, administrative changes, and personal protective equipment are recommended.
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(2003) ChemDesign Corporation, Fitchburg, Massachusetts. (Click to open report) On December 13, 1999, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for Technical Assistance (TA) from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Program (OHSP). OHSP asked NIOSH to conduct a health hazard evaluation (HHE) at ChemDesign Corporation in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, to investigate a cluster of eight occupational asthma cases which had been reported to OHSP. The chemicals associated with the cases were identifi... (Click to show more)On December 13, 1999, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for Technical Assistance (TA) from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Program (OHSP). OHSP asked NIOSH to conduct a health hazard evaluation (HHE) at ChemDesign Corporation in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, to investigate a cluster of eight occupational asthma cases which had been reported to OHSP. The chemicals associated with the cases were identified as AMT (3-amino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole) and DE-498 (Flumetsulam). AMT was raw material used in the production of DE-498 and AMT-based product two (AMTBP2). In response to the request, NIOSH investigators, accompanied by an OHSP industrial hygienist, conducted an initial site visit to ChemDesign on February 1-3, 2000. The NIOSH industrial hygienist returned on June 5-9 to conduct air sampling at four routine operations where employees could be exposed to AMT or DE-498: (1) charging AMT powder into a reactor vessel, (2) discharging DE-498 "wet cake" from a centrifuge, (3) charging DE-498 into the dryer, and (4) discharging DE-498 from the dryer. On July 6-7, the NIOSH Project Officer and medical team visited ChemDesign to recruit workers for participation in a medical survey. On June 12-16, the team conducted a medical evaluation of volunteer production workers. The onsite medical evaluation consisted of a questionnaire interview, lung function testing, and a blood sample collection. A methacholine challenge test was administered at Burbank Hospital in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. In August 2000, NIOSH obtained copies of company medical records for the workers who signed a medical records release form. Environmental monitoring found quantifiable concentrations of AMT or DE-498 in personal breathing zone (PBZ) air samples during tasks where these materials were manually added to, or discharged from the closed system in Building 16. The greatest potential for exposure to these materials existed during these specific tasks. Although use of respiratory protection and other personal protective equipment (PPE) appeared to provide substantial protection, reports of upper respiratory symptoms by several employees with occupational asthma (OA) indicate that PPE may not provide adequate protection for these individuals. Visible airborne dust during AMT and dryer charges, indicates a need for improved engineering controls (local exhaust ventilation) to reduce the potential for worker exposures. AMT and DE-498 in area air samples collected at the boundaries of restricted areas established during reactor and dryer charging, ranged from below the limit of detection to barely quantifiable levels. Changes in work practices, PPE, and engineering controls during the various production campaigns preclude assessment of the nature and extent of previous exposures to AMT and DE-498. A total of 41 employees and four former employees participated in the medical survey; the participation rate was 41% in production workers with a potential for AMT exposure. The medical survey identified 12 cases of physician-diagnosed asthma that were diagnosed after the cases started working at ChemDesign. In 11 of these, the onset corresponded with periods when AMT was used in the company. The physician's diagnosis of OA was mostly made on the basis of the presence of nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity (NSBH), work-related respiratory symptoms, and in some cases work-related serial peak flow changes. The NSBH occurred after a latency period; allergy to common allergens was not a risk factor for the development of OA in these cases. Laboratory studies were undertaken to assess whether the respiratory symptoms observed in ChemDesign workers could be due to an allergic response to AMT and DE-498. Studies done on human blood of employees exposed to AMT were not able to clearly demonstrate that AMT or DE-498 exposures were associated with an allergic response to those agents. However, animal studies clearly show that AMT, but not DE-498, is capable of causing an allergic response. The results from the animal studies support the original complaints that AMT caused occupational asthma. However, the possible role of DE-498 cannot be excluded from negative animal studies. A large percentage of employees reported respiratory symptoms that started during 1998, when two new campaigns using AMT were started in ChemDesign. However, apart from AMT, other agents were reported as causing or making the respiratory symptoms worse. Chronic lung function effects were also found. A high percentage of the participants (18%) had mild airflow obstruction according to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) criteria. The cross-sectional analysis of the lung function measurements done by NIOSH showed significant decrease in Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) and in the ratio of FEV1 and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC: this pattern is suggestive of airway obstruction. The data analysis of company yearly lung function data confirmed that the study participants had a higher mean decline in FEV1 and FEV1/FVC with age, than would be expected from the reference equations. In summary, the results of the medical and laboratory investigation provide evidence that the incidence of OA was associated with exposure to AMT. There was an association between AMT exposure and asthma onset, NSBH associated with AMT exposure improved after withdrawal from AMT exposure, and AMT was found to be a sensitizer in animal studies. The findings show that ChemDesign employees are exposed to agents that can lead to occupational asthma and steeper decline in lung function with age than would be expected. Respiratory symptoms and lung function monitoring currently done at ChemDesign provide an opportunity to utilize the data for the protection of employees' respiratory health. Active workers' participation in the respiratory health protection program should be encouraged. Investigators examined changes in yearly thyroid hormone (T4) measurements in relation to working on the AMT campaigns. The possibility that AMT was associated with the decrease in thyroid hormone production could not be ruled out because of insufficient data. The investigation provides strong evidence that AMT (3-Amino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole) was the causal agent responsible for the cluster of occupational asthma that occurred in ChemDesign. AMT has a potential for causing allergic response in experimental animals. Environmental monitoring found quantifiable concentrations of AMT in personal breathing zone air samples collected during routine production. Study participants had a high frequency of work-related respiratory symptoms whose onset corresponded with the use of AMT. The group of study participants had decreased mean pulmonary function values suggestive of airflow obstruction, identified from cross-sectional and longitudinal data. The findings of this study show that ChemDesign employees are exposed to chemical agents that can lead to occupational asthma and to COPD. Therefore effective exposure controls and a pulmonary function monitoring program need to be implemented and maintained to prevent further occurrence of respiratory disease in the employees.
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(2003) Sunset Strip Furniture Stripping, Huntington Beach, California. (Click to open report) On September 4, 2001, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for a Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) from a management official at Sunset Strip Furniture Stripping Company, Huntington Beach, California. The request concerned worker exposures to lead and other metals that may result from stripping and refinishing furniture. A site visit at Sunset Strip Furniture Stripping Company was conducted on September 4-5, 2002. This survey was conducted to evalu... (Click to show more)On September 4, 2001, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for a Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) from a management official at Sunset Strip Furniture Stripping Company, Huntington Beach, California. The request concerned worker exposures to lead and other metals that may result from stripping and refinishing furniture. A site visit at Sunset Strip Furniture Stripping Company was conducted on September 4-5, 2002. This survey was conducted to evaluate worker exposures in the furniture stripping shop for lead and other elements during typical shop operations. Wood dust was also evaluated during this HHE because operations in the shop included sanding on hard woods. Personal breathing zone (PBZ) air samples were collected on both workers in the shop for lead and other elements (i.e., silver, aluminum, arsenic, beryllium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, lithium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sodium, nickel, phosphorus, platinum, selenium, tellurium, thallium, titanium, vanadium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium) and total dust during stripping, rinsing, sanding, and refinishing operations throughout the 2-day sampling period. In addition, area air samples for elements (including lead) and inhalable dust were collected at two locations near sanding operations. Qualitative wipe samples for lead and bulk samples for elements were also collected. All air samples (both area and PBZ samples) for lead and other elements indicated concentrations well below applicable occupational exposure criteria. Bulk samples of dust material in the shop and stripping solution from the paint stripping operation indicated the presence of lead and other elements. Therefore, care should be taken to improve hygiene practices within the shop to reduce the possibility of ingestion or secondary exposures during cleaning activities. PBZ wood dust air samples indicated exposures exceeding the NIOSH REL (1 milligram per cubic meter [mg/m3]) for soft or hard wood) and ACGIH TLV (1 mg/m3 for hard wood). The adverse health effects that have been associated with exposure to wood dust upon which evaluation criteria are based include dermatitis, allergic respiratory effects, mucosal and nonallergenic respiratory effects, and cancer. Engineering controls should be used to reduce worker exposures to wood dust. Personal protective equipment (PPE) (i.e., respirators) are designed to protect workers from airborne exposures while engineering controls are being implemented or when engineering controls are not feasible or effective in reducing air contaminants to acceptable levels. Recommendations for controls, respirators, and hygiene practices (shop cleaning and personal hygiene) are provided.
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(2002) Glass Masters Neon, Savannah, Georgia. (Click to open report) On November 11, 2000, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for a health hazard evaluation from the owner of Glass Masters Neon in Savannah, Georgia, a small business which manufactures and repairs neon tubes for commercial signs and artwork. The owner, who was also the sole worker, was concerned about the health risks of his exposures to mercury, lead, and cadmium. In response to this request, a NIOSH industrial hygienist conducted a site visit on ... (Click to show more)On November 11, 2000, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for a health hazard evaluation from the owner of Glass Masters Neon in Savannah, Georgia, a small business which manufactures and repairs neon tubes for commercial signs and artwork. The owner, who was also the sole worker, was concerned about the health risks of his exposures to mercury, lead, and cadmium. In response to this request, a NIOSH industrial hygienist conducted a site visit on January 23, 2001. Full-shift, personal-breathing zone (PBZ) air samples for mercury vapor, lead, and cadmium were collected. Real-time air monitoring for mercury vapor was conducted throughout the shop area. Surface wipe samples of the work-tables were collected using moist cloth wipes for analysis of lead and other elements. In addition to the site visit, the owner's medical records were reviewed by a NIOSH physician. The worker's full-shift time-weighted average (TWA) PBZ air sample was 0.03 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) for mercury, which is below the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 8-hour TWA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.1 mg/m3 and the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) of 0.05 mg/m3 , but it is above the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists' (ACGIH ) threshold limit value (TLV) 8-hour TWA of 0.025 mg/m3 . Lead and cadmium were not detected in the 8-hour PBZ air sample. Real-time monitoring indicated that mercury contamination was present in the neon glass room, especially in areas where mercury was added to glass tubes. Particularly high air concentrations of mercury were found above a floor mat. A difference existed between the amount of metals found on two work surfaces from which wipes samples were collected. The location designated as side A in this report was an area where cutting, heating, and other manipulations of the glass were performed; side B was an area where primarily glass cutting occurred. Side A had a much higher range of lead levels (120-170 micrograms per square foot (microg Pb/ft2 ) of surface wiped) than side B (16-21 microg Pb/ft2 of surface wiped). Cadmium levels were also elevated over background (side A = 1.1-2.9 microg Cd/ft2 of surface wiped; side B = 0.43-0.69 microg Cd/ft2 of surface wiped.). No occupational standards or recommendations exist for lead or cadmium or the other elements on surfaces. A medical record of the worker's urine, collected by his private physician, reported a mercury level of 22 micrograms per gram creatinine (microg/g creat.), which is below the ACGIH's biological exposure index (BEI ) of 35 microg/g creat. No lead was detected in the worker's urine. Urinary cadmium was 0.9 microg/g creat., which is consistent with levels found in the general population. Airborne mercury concentrations exceeded the ACGIH-TLV . Mercury in the air samples was largely the result of volatization of mercury from surface contamination rather than process aerosolization. Air concentrations of lead and cadmium were low, although there was lead and cadmium contamination of work surfaces. Recommendations were made to clean the shop and prevent further contamination by installing a hood with local exhaust ventilation, adding mercury trapping devices, and improving work practices.
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(2002) Lead Safe Services, Inc., Neenah, Wisconsin. (Click to open report) At the request of a state-licensed contractor, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a study of residential lead hazard reduction work. Workers' task-specific and full-shift personal airborne lead (PbA) exposures were measured on three consecutive days during exterior work at two single-family homes in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Tasks assessed were cleaning, demolition, dry scraping, component removal, set-up, and wet scraping. Additionally, we measured surface pai... (Click to show more)At the request of a state-licensed contractor, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a study of residential lead hazard reduction work. Workers' task-specific and full-shift personal airborne lead (PbA) exposures were measured on three consecutive days during exterior work at two single-family homes in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Tasks assessed were cleaning, demolition, dry scraping, component removal, set-up, and wet scraping. Additionally, we measured surface paint lead concentrations and, for dry scraping and a mix of other tasks, concomitant lead concentrations in settled dust (PbS) at 10, 15, and 25 feet (ft) (3.1, 4.6, and 7.6 meters [m]) from work surfaces. Mean exterior paint lead concentrations at the two houses were high: 22 percent (%) and 37% Pb by weight. The 79 task-specific worker PbA exposures measured were highly variable; range 1.4-2240 micrograms per cubic meter (microg/m3), geometric mean (GM) = 71 microg/m3, geometric standard deviation (GSD) = 4.6. Within-task variability of PbA exposures was high (GSDs = 1.9-5.4). PbA exposures were significantly associated with task, worker, and house variables (p <0.0001). High-exposure tasks were cleaning (GM = 108 microg/m3), dry demolition (77 mcirog/m3), dry scraping (136 micorg/m3), and wet scraping (90 microg/m3); the means did not differ significantly in paired comparisons. The low-exposure task was set-up (GM = 12 microg/m3); the GM for removal also appeared to be low (30 microg/m3 ) but is uncertain due to small sample size (n = 3). Nearly all (14/15) of the full-shift PbA exposures collected for workers performing scraping and a mix of other tasks were above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) (GM = 100 microg/m3, range: 39-526 microg/m3). Results for five full-shift area PbA samples collected to measure potential bystander exposures on work days were relatively low, ranging from 0.83 to 6.1 microg/m3. Seventeen PbS samples collected at 10 ft (3.05 m), sixteen samples at 15 ft (4.57 m), and twelve samples at 25 ft (7.62 m) had respective GMs of 1716, 458 and 65 milligrams per square meter (mg/m 2). PbS levels were significantly associated with distance from the work surface, p <0.0005. PbS levels were not significantly associated with the two task categories (dry scraping and a mix of other tasks). Almost all of the full-shift PbA exposures for workers performing exterior scraping and a mix of other tasks were greater than the PEL. Task-specific PbA exposures were highly variable both within and between tasks. High-exposure tasks were cleaning, demolition, dry scraping, and wet scraping, with mean exposures exceeding the PEL. Mean exposures for set-up and component removal were below the PEL. The respirators used were adequate to protect workers from the exposures measured. Recommendations are provided in this report to assist the contractor in controlling worker exposures to hazardous levels of lead-based paint.
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(2002) Marion County Board of Education, Fairmont, West Virginia. (Click to open report) The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was requested to evaluate noise levels in the interior of school buses operated by the Marion County Board of Education in West Virginia. Drivers were particularly concerned about the transit-style buses that have a flat front where the diesel engine is behind the windshield next to the driver's seat, covered by a cowling. A NIOSH investigator performed a one-day survey of the noise levels in six buses with the transit-style confi... (Click to show more)The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was requested to evaluate noise levels in the interior of school buses operated by the Marion County Board of Education in West Virginia. Drivers were particularly concerned about the transit-style buses that have a flat front where the diesel engine is behind the windshield next to the driver's seat, covered by a cowling. A NIOSH investigator performed a one-day survey of the noise levels in six buses with the transit-style configuration as well as two conventional-style buses with the diesel engine in front of the windshield, under a hood. The NIOSH investigator rode one of the buses for the entire day as the driver picked up and dropped off students at school and home making a log of activities to match with the noise data for that bus. The noise levels were measured with noise dosimeters placed in the bus with the microphone taped to the right side of the driver's seat at approximately the level of the driver's ear. The overall daily average noise was compared to three different evaluation criteria for increased risk of occupational hearing loss from workplace noise exposures. The measured noise levels for all eight buses were less than the limits set forth in the criteria, with none of the levels greater than 82 decibels on an A-weighted scale expressed as a time-weighted average. The conventional-style buses were generally found to be quieter than the transit-style buses. The time-weighted average noise levels measured in this evaluation were less than all the of the evaluation criteria referenced in this report. The school bus operators are not at increased risk for occupational noise-induced hearing loss from exposure to bus engine noise. Some general recommendations to maintain low noise levels in the buses and to possibly lead to additional noise reductions are offered at the end of the report.
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(2002) Mueller Company, Chattanooga, Tennessee. (Click to open report) In May 1998, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a confidential request for a health hazard evaluation (HHE) at the Mueller Company facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The HHE requesters expressed concern over exposures to formaldehyde, phenol, xylene, isocyanates, toluene, naphthalene, carbon monoxide, trimethyl benzene, cumene, lead, and silica in the Pepset, No- Bake, shell core, green sand, and iron pouring areas; silica and iron dust in the cleaning r... (Click to show more)In May 1998, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a confidential request for a health hazard evaluation (HHE) at the Mueller Company facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The HHE requesters expressed concern over exposures to formaldehyde, phenol, xylene, isocyanates, toluene, naphthalene, carbon monoxide, trimethyl benzene, cumene, lead, and silica in the Pepset, No- Bake, shell core, green sand, and iron pouring areas; silica and iron dust in the cleaning room, shell core, green sand, and machining areas; oil mist from hydraulic tanks; and asbestos from the concrete plant floors. The HHE request listed respiratory symptoms and possibly increased cancer rates as health concerns. On March 31-April 1, 1999, NIOSH investigators conducted a walk-through survey, reviewed material safety data sheets and environmental sampling data, and interviewed 22 employees about the work environment and possible work-related health effects. Employer records were examined to determine the number of cancer cases among employees. On August 8-9, 2000, environmental monitoring was conducted for phenol, volatile organic compounds, Stoddard solvent, formaldehyde, toluene, cumene, ammonia, trimethyl benzene isomers, 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA). Formaldehyde was detected at low levels in some air samples. MDI and HMTA were detected at low concentrations. Phenol, Stoddard solvent, toluene, cumene, ammonia, and trimethyl benzene isomers were detected at levels below current occupational exposure limits. Smoke released from the shell core ovens was found to move through the employees' breathing zones before being exhausted through the canopy hood. Twenty-one (4.4% of the 475 production workers) were interviewed. Among those interviewed, most employees who had prolonged exposure to emissions from the Pepset and No-Bake coremaking/molding operations reported transient respiratory irritation. The workers who worked in these areas on a regular basis generally did not report persistent respiratory illnesses that they associated with their workplace exposures. Review of the medical records of six employees who reported work-related respiratory illnesses found that some workers had worsening of pre-existing chronic respiratory conditions, although the cause of this was not determined. Information concerning cancer diagnosed among Mueller Co. employees did not reveal an unusual number or pattern of cancers; however, it is not possible to determine the cause of the cancers that developed among the employees. All of the substances sampled in the employees' personal breathing zones had concentrations below the occupational exposure limits. The 16 identified cancer cases were of 10 different types, and there was not enough information available to determine if the cancers resulted from workplace exposures. Among the small number of employees interviewed, most who had long term exposures to emissions in the Pepset and No-Bake coremaking/molding areas reported temporary respiratory irritation. Recommendations are provided for additional monitoring for MDI, formaldehyde, and phenol, use of gloves, reporting of health symptoms to medical personnel, and local exhaust ventilation in the shell core area.
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