Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs)

(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)
(Click to open report)

(1978) McDaniel Art Studio, Cincinnati, Ohio. (Click to open report)
In response to a request from the McDaniel Art Studio, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, an investigation was made of possible hazardous working conditions at the site, specifically the exposure to dust during sculpturing. Air sampling revealed potential dust exposures as high as 50mg/m3 of total dust while using a powered disc grinder to sculpt. The sculpting process involved grinding with a 6 inch electric disc grinder or using such hand tools as files and chisels. The sculptor used primarily limes... (Click to show more) In response to a request from the McDaniel Art Studio, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, an investigation was made of possible hazardous working conditions at the site, specifically the exposure to dust during sculpturing. Air sampling revealed potential dust exposures as high as 50mg/m3 of total dust while using a powered disc grinder to sculpt. The sculpting process involved grinding with a 6 inch electric disc grinder or using such hand tools as files and chisels. The sculptor used primarily limestone, marble, talc, and onyx, working about 6 hours per day. The talc (14807966) sculpting stone showed the presence of asbestos (1332214) on bulk analysis. The sculptor wore safety glasses with side shields and an appropriate, approved respirator. An industrial vacuum cleaner was used for dust cleanup. The author recommends that the sculptor continue to use the NIOSH approved respirator and that, if possible, the disc grinder not be used on potential asbestos sources such as serpentine (50555) and talc. Wet working of the stone would reduce the dust levels significantly. Several precautionary measures are listed from a publication dealing the health risks associated with common art and hobby materials. (Click to show less)
(Click to open report)

(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)
(Click to open report)

(1978) Nixon Power Plant, Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Click to open report)
Asbestos (1332214) concentrations during sanding and buffing operations were measured at the Nixon Power facility (SIC-4911) in Colorado Springs, Colorado on September 29, 1978. The evaluation was requested by the vice president of the Watkin Construction Company on behalf of plumbers engaged in sanding asbestos joints and connections. Breathing zone asbestos concentrations of fibers greater than five microns in length ranged from 0.02 to 0.187 fibers per cubic centimeter. The OSHA asbestos stan... (Click to show more) Asbestos (1332214) concentrations during sanding and buffing operations were measured at the Nixon Power facility (SIC-4911) in Colorado Springs, Colorado on September 29, 1978. The evaluation was requested by the vice president of the Watkin Construction Company on behalf of plumbers engaged in sanding asbestos joints and connections. Breathing zone asbestos concentrations of fibers greater than five microns in length ranged from 0.02 to 0.187 fibers per cubic centimeter. The OSHA asbestos standard of 2 fibers per cubic centimeter was not exceeded, however the author concludes that a potential asbestos hazard does exist. He recommends that respirators be used by workers until exhaust ventilation is provided. (Click to show less)
(Click to open report)

(1978) Platte Chemical Company, Fremont, Nebraska. (Click for full summary)
In response to a request from the Platte Chemical Company, Fremont, Nebraska, an evaluation was made of possible hazardous working conditions at the site. At the time of the survey the company employed about ten persons. There was one large production line which processed several tons of granular product or pesticide per day. Four or five workers were employed in the production of a liquid product identified as a seed protectant and nutrient mixture. Employees in the granular facility were expos... (Click to show more) In response to a request from the Platte Chemical Company, Fremont, Nebraska, an evaluation was made of possible hazardous working conditions at the site. At the time of the survey the company employed about ten persons. There was one large production line which processed several tons of granular product or pesticide per day. Four or five workers were employed in the production of a liquid product identified as a seed protectant and nutrient mixture. Employees in the granular facility were exposed to concentrations of S-(((1,1-dimethylethyl)thio)methyl)-O,O-diethyl- phosphorodithioate in excess of the environmental criteria. Heptachlor (76448) exposures in the seed protectant area were also in excess of environmental criteria. Employees were exposed to excessive levels of aliphatic solvents, benzene (71432), captan (133062), diazinon (333415), and organophosphates. There was a potential exposure to free silica (7631869) in the granular facility. A significant number of workers reported acute symptoms probably due to excessive pesticide and dust exposures. The authors recommend that immediate action be taken to lower potential exposures by providing improved engineering controls and practices at this site. More frequent cleanup of the screening pit and other areas should be implemented until improved engineering controls can be tried. Strict contamination and decontamination control procedures, a program of employee and management education, a respiratory protection program, improvements in personal protective equipment use and care, improved medical and training practices, and discontinuance of the use of solvents containing benzene are also recommended. (Click to show less)