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HHE Search Results
474 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
(2024) Exposure to lead during bullet recycling. (Click to open report) Management of a lead bullet recycling company requested a health hazard evaluation to evaluate lead exposure among employees processing lead-containing bullets. We visited the facility on two occasions and completed the following activities: observed work processes, practices, and conditions; measured employees' lead exposure in air and throughout the facility; collected wipe samples for lead on surfaces outside of the warehouse; interviewed employees to learn about work history, health and safe... (Click to show more)Management of a lead bullet recycling company requested a health hazard evaluation to evaluate lead exposure among employees processing lead-containing bullets. We visited the facility on two occasions and completed the following activities: observed work processes, practices, and conditions; measured employees' lead exposure in air and throughout the facility; collected wipe samples for lead on surfaces outside of the warehouse; interviewed employees to learn about work history, health and safety concerns, PPE use, training, and possible work-related health effects; and reviewed documents and employee BLL data. We found that most employees were overexposed to lead in air. Surface sampling showed lead was being tracked outside of production areas. Lead was also found inside employees' respirator facepieces. Employee blood lead levels were elevated. Historical records of employee blood lead levels suggest that medical removal from work or to job duties with lower exposure has been the predominant intervention in successfully reducing employee blood lead levels thus far, further indicating a need for improved controls. Recommendations included (1) improving local exhaust ventilation over the melting pots/furnaces to better enclose the melting process, (2) reducing employees' exposure to lead through improved medical surveillance, cleaning, training, and work practices, and (3) reducing exposure to molten lead splashes by installing an automatic strainer.
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(2024) First responders' biological monitoring results after Maui County Hawaii wildfires. (Click to open report) The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received technical assistance requests from Maui County and the Hawai'i National Guard through a mission assignment from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to evaluate first responders' exposures to chemicals and inorganic elements during the 2023 Maui Wildfires. We visited Maui County and the Maui County Fire Department in September 2023 to evaluate potential chemical and inorganic elements exposures in firefighters and othe... (Click to show more)The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received technical assistance requests from Maui County and the Hawai'i National Guard through a mission assignment from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to evaluate first responders' exposures to chemicals and inorganic elements during the 2023 Maui Wildfires. We visited Maui County and the Maui County Fire Department in September 2023 to evaluate potential chemical and inorganic elements exposures in firefighters and others who responded to the Maui wildfires. We completed the following activities during our evaluation: measured the amount of markers of exposure to a variety of substances; administered two questionnaires to collect responders' demographic, work, and potential exposure characteristics while responding to the wildfires; analyzed the exposure marker results by self-reported demographic, occupational, and exposure characteristics collected on the questionnaires; and categorized participating responders by employer and job into a variety of occupational subcategories. We found (1) that some employees had levels of inorganic elements above relevant reference values, (2) almost all Maui County and Hawai'i National Guard participants had detectable levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organophosphate esters (OPEs), (3) some associations between occupation and the levels of inorganic elements and exposure markers measured in Maui County employees, and (4) we did not observe clear patterns between self-reported exposure characteristics and the exposure markers we measured in blood and urine. In the report, we made recommendations pertaining to following best practices during wildfires and during fire debris cleanup to prevent exposure to inorganic elements, PFAS, flame retardants, and other chemicals related to products of combustion.
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(2024) Mercury and noise exposure at a lightbulb recycler. (Click to open report) Management at an electronics waste and lamp recycling facility requested a health hazard evaluation concerning employees' exposure to mercury, lead, and noise. During our two visits, we observed work processes, practices, and conditions, measured employees' exposure to mercury in air and the amount of mercury in employees' urine; interviewed employees to learn about work history and practices, health and safety concerns, personal protective equipment use, training, and possible work-related heal... (Click to show more)Management at an electronics waste and lamp recycling facility requested a health hazard evaluation concerning employees' exposure to mercury, lead, and noise. During our two visits, we observed work processes, practices, and conditions, measured employees' exposure to mercury in air and the amount of mercury in employees' urine; interviewed employees to learn about work history and practices, health and safety concerns, personal protective equipment use, training, and possible work-related health effects; and measured employees' exposure to noise. Some employees had (1) airborne mercury exposures exceeding NIOSH and ACGIH occupational exposure limits, (2) elevated urine mercury levels and reported symptoms consistent with mercury exposure, and (3) noise exposures over the NIOSH recommended exposure limit. In addition to employee exposures, we measured elevated concentrations of mercury in the air throughout the facility, including in nonproduction areas. Additionally, we observed mercury-containing dust piles throughout the facility and areas where engineering and administrative controls could be used to reduce the potential for exposures. Air sampling results indicate worker exposures to mercury and noise exceeded relevant occupational exposure limits. We noted high urine mercury levels in employees who had high occupational exposure to mercury in air and found high occupational exposure to mercury even in nonproduction areas. Some employees also reported symptoms consistent with mercury exposure, suggesting exposures to mercury may have led to health effects. Some of these exposures could be preventable with improved ventilation, housekeeping practices, and health and safety programs. In addition, some workers were exposed to noise over the NIOSH recommended exposure limit. Equipment enclosures and preventative maintenance of equipment may help reduce hazardous noise exposures in these areas. Our recommendations included (1) installing local exhaust ventilation and repairing existing systems, (2) improving housekeeping procedures, (3) standardizing the use of personal protective equipment among employees who are exposed to mercury-containing dusts, (4) improving the hearing loss prevention program, (5) periodically reevaluating workplace equipment and safety and health programs, and (6) encouraging employees to report any new, persistent, or worsening health symptoms, especially those with a work-related pattern, to their healthcare providers.
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(2023) Exposures to styrene during ultraviolet cured-in-place pipe installation. (Click to open report) In October 2017, the Health Hazard Evaluation Program of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request from the management of an ultraviolet cured-in-place pipe installer regarding styrene exposures at the worksites. The request sought to determine whether exposures were controlled using current practices and identify areas for improvement. We conducted an initial visit during February 5-6, 2018, and performed preliminary sampling at one site per day. We co... (Click to show more)In October 2017, the Health Hazard Evaluation Program of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request from the management of an ultraviolet cured-in-place pipe installer regarding styrene exposures at the worksites. The request sought to determine whether exposures were controlled using current practices and identify areas for improvement. We conducted an initial visit during February 5-6, 2018, and performed preliminary sampling at one site per day. We conducted a second visit during June 6-7, 2018, and performed additional sampling at one site per day. We monitored one installation each day. Both visits consisted of collecting personal breathing zone air samples for styrene. Both visits also consisted of area sampling for total volatile organic compounds and styrene using real-time monitors. During the second visit, we collected real-time total volatile organic compound exposures by placing monitors on employees. We collected bulk samples of cured pipe for styrene emissions testing. One personal exposure during grinding a cured pipe was above the NIOSH short-term exposure limit of 100 parts per million when the manhole ventilation blower fan was not being used to provide dilution of air from outside the manhole. No personal exposures were above the NIOSH short-term exposure limit when the manhole ventilator blower fans were used. Area sampling results for total volatile organic compound and styrene emissions at the manhole face increased when cured-in-place pipe installation activities occurred in the manhole and demonstrated a reduction in measured styrene when manhole blower ventilators were used. Styrene was emitted from the uncured and cured resin. Emissions testing of the cured liner revealed emission factors that could cause styrene air concentrations to be in the parts per million range in manholes for sewers and storm water drains during cured-in-place pipe installation. For example, during grinding of the cured pipe, the surface area available for emissions increased, and the trapped styrene was released, leading to an increase in measured styrene exposures during this task. Dilution ventilation appeared to be effective at reducing personal exposures to below the NIOSH short-term exposure limit for styrene during the two cured-in-place pipe installation sampling events reported here. We recommend continued use of the manhole ventilation blower fans. We recommend additional sampling if employees report health symptoms associated with styrene exposure, such as excessive tiredness, changes in color vision, slowed reaction time, concentration problems, balance problems, feeling drunk, hearing loss, or respiratory symptoms. We also recommend additional sampling if work site conditions change in a way that could increase employee exposures to styrene such as changes to processes, materials, or work practices.
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(2023) Symptoms among above-wing uniformed airline employees. (Click to open report) The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received multiple confidential employee requests for a health hazard evaluation at a commercial airline. Employees were concerned about health effects they associated with their new, mandatory uniforms. The requestors also reported that many employees were hesitant to formally report health and safety problems related to the uniform to airline management for fear of being removed from their work assignments. Our evaluation consist... (Click to show more)The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received multiple confidential employee requests for a health hazard evaluation at a commercial airline. Employees were concerned about health effects they associated with their new, mandatory uniforms. The requestors also reported that many employees were hesitant to formally report health and safety problems related to the uniform to airline management for fear of being removed from their work assignments. Our evaluation consisted of speaking with airline managers and employees, reviewing documents provided by airline management, analyzing data on worker's compensation claims and accommodations requests, and reviewing scientific literature on health effects related to textiles, skin and allergy conditions, and health effects seen in flight attendants. We found that employees reported a variety of symptoms they thought were related to the new uniforms, but wearing new uniform pieces did not lead to a widespread outbreak of symptoms. Skin or allergy symptoms were the most common symptom types mentioned in workers' compensation data. Of the records we reviewed, no uniform-related workers' compensation claims or accommodation requests were approved. The most common reason for a workers' compensation claim denial was the lack of treatment and diagnosis. Uniform-related accommodation requests were commonly closed because the employee did not submit any documents for review. Airline representatives said a positive patch test for skin allergy was generally needed for a successful workers' compensation claim or uniform-related accommodation request. Although, no positive patch tests had been reported at the time of this HHE, people with skin symptoms who do not test positive might have other skin conditions. Some symptoms employees reported could be associated with the uniforms, although we faced challenges linking symptoms to uniforms. We made detailed recommendations to the airline that focused on allowing for more flexibility in the uniform wear policy and improving communication to address employee concerns.
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(2022) Whole-body vibration analysis of golf course maintenance tasks. (Click to open report) The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from golf course management concerning maintenance employees' exposure to whole-body vibration. Employees reported pain or discomfort in their lower back, shoulders, neck, and knees, which they thought was related to excessive whole-body vibration while doing certain work tasks. We visited the golf course to learn more about health concerns and to measure whole-body vibration exposures. During our site visit, we observed work processes, wor... (Click to show more)The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from golf course management concerning maintenance employees' exposure to whole-body vibration. Employees reported pain or discomfort in their lower back, shoulders, neck, and knees, which they thought was related to excessive whole-body vibration while doing certain work tasks. We visited the golf course to learn more about health concerns and to measure whole-body vibration exposures. During our site visit, we observed work processes, work practices, and workplace conditions; measured golf course maintenance employees' exposures to whole-body vibration; and held confidential interviews with employees working during our visit. We found that most job tasks we evaluated were above the whole-body vibration dose value (VDV) action level. This could lead to employees potentially experiencing health risks. Employees reported pain or discomfort in their lower back, shoulders, neck, and knees. They also indicated that original equipment seats had been replaced with other manufacturers' seats when they wore out. This could contribute to pain and discomfort. We recommended reducing the amount of time spent on equipment, taking paths that are known to cause less vibration, providing proper replacement seats on equipment, reducing or eliminating rough and uneven areas of the cart paths through maintenance or replacement, establishing a schedule that rotates employees between job tasks, and encouraging employees to report health concerns they think are work-related to their supervisors.
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(2021) Exposure to lead during residential water line replacement activities. (Click to open report) The Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) Program received a request from the employer of a city water department concerning lead exposure among crews replacing lead water lines servicing residential homes. This occurred after two employees received blood tests indicating elevated lead levels. In response to these findings, the employer implemented some measures to minimize lead exposures among employees and submitted an HHE request. In response to this request, we conducted confidential medical interv... (Click to show more)The Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) Program received a request from the employer of a city water department concerning lead exposure among crews replacing lead water lines servicing residential homes. This occurred after two employees received blood tests indicating elevated lead levels. In response to these findings, the employer implemented some measures to minimize lead exposures among employees and submitted an HHE request. In response to this request, we conducted confidential medical interviews; collected personal air samples for lead; conducted colorimetric wipe sampling for lead on the hands of employees; collected wipe samples inside the surfaces of work gloves, work trucks, and areas at the main pump station; and determined whether lead particulate was expelled from the old lead pipe during a removal process. All air samples were below the occupational exposure limit for lead; however, we found lead on various surfaces and on the hands of some employees. Specific job titles such as crew leader and maintenance worker appear to have a higher potential for exposure via all routes than other job titles. We detected lead on the hands of employees who handled the lead pipe during removal activities, and lead on the inside of some work gloves after the job was completed. The task of using compressed air to blow a string through the lead piping produced a large amount of lead aerosol being ejected from the pipe. We observed incorrect respirator usage and some cases where nitrile gloves were not worn underneath work gloves when handling lead pipe. The company had a written lead monitoring and control program, a hazard communication program, and a job-hazard analysis for tasks associated with lead line replacement. While the employer had implemented multiple measures to minimize lead exposures to employees, there appears to be opportunities for potential lead exposure among employees during residential water line replacement activities. We recommended improving (1) lead surveillance, training, and work practices; (2) personal protective equipment use and training; (3) procedures for employees to keep their hands clean and free of lead during different tasks; and (4) cleaning procedures to reduce lead exposure.
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(2021) Exposures to metals and a perceived excess of cancer cases in a train maintenance facility. (Click to open report) The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from a union at a train maintenance facility concerning employee exposure to metals and a perceived excess of cancer. We visited the facility twice and focused our evaluation on first shift employees working in six shops (truck, wheel, motor, electronics, contactor, and tin) that worked on different maintenance and repair tasks. We observed work processes, work practices, and conditions; spoke informally to employees in each shop about heal... (Click to show more)The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from a union at a train maintenance facility concerning employee exposure to metals and a perceived excess of cancer. We visited the facility twice and focused our evaluation on first shift employees working in six shops (truck, wheel, motor, electronics, contactor, and tin) that worked on different maintenance and repair tasks. We observed work processes, work practices, and conditions; spoke informally to employees in each shop about health and safety concerns; measured employee exposures to metals in air; administered medical surveys; and measured blood lead levels of employees in the electronics shop. Our air sampling showed that there were no exposures to metals above relevant occupational exposure limits; however, employees remained concerned about potential exposures to metals and dust. Blood lead levels were all below the CDC reference level of 5 micrograms per deciliter. We found that training and hazard communication could be improved. For example, employees expressed concern about potential exposures to varnish chemicals and cadmium. However, management ceased the vacuum pressure impregnation process for applying varnish and enclosed the cadmium-containing contactors. Employees were also concerned about their health, specifically their respiratory health and a perceived excess risk of cancer. The results from our evaluation were not consistent with the reported cancers being caused by a work-related exposure. We recommended providing periodic training and communication around concerns about chemical exposures, visible dust in the facility, cadmium in the contactor shop, personal protective equipment requirements, and the perceived excess of cancer cases. We recommended reinforcing the importance of daily and weekly cleaning of commonly used areas of all workstations and break areas. We also recommended using wet methods or high efficiency particulate air filter vacuums to clean metal dust; ways to improve the spray-painting process; removing latex gloves from the facility; and consuming food and beverages away from production areas.
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(2019) Exposure to metals and flame retardants at an electronics recycling company. (Click to open report) The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from an electronics recycling company. The managers were concerned about exposure to metals and flame retardants, as well as ergonomic stressors and hazardous levels of noise. We observed work operations, practices, and conditions; collected air, surface wipe, hand wipe, blood, and urine samples for metals and flame retardants; took sound level measurements; and assessed possible ergonomic hazards. Employees at this electronics recycling co... (Click to show more)The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from an electronics recycling company. The managers were concerned about exposure to metals and flame retardants, as well as ergonomic stressors and hazardous levels of noise. We observed work operations, practices, and conditions; collected air, surface wipe, hand wipe, blood, and urine samples for metals and flame retardants; took sound level measurements; and assessed possible ergonomic hazards. Employees at this electronics recycling company were exposed to metals including lead and cadmium; however, no OELs were exceeded. Although blood and air sampling results indicated exposures were well controlled, our hand wipe sampling results showed a potential for take-home contamination of lead and other metals. Surface wipe, hand wipe, and air samples indicated that employees were exposed to flame retardants in the workplace. Biological samples showed that exposures had not led to a noticeable uptake over a shift. Sound level meter measurements showed peak impulsive sound levels exceeding 120 decibels, but below the OSHA PEL and NIOSH REL of 140 decibels. Additional findings included workstations set at fixed heights, anti-fatigue mats were available but not used by most employees, poor lighting at workstations, incorrect use of ear plugs and N95 respirators, and dry sweeping. We recommended the employer include all processing employees in a lead exposure prevention program, provide employees with a lead-removing product to wash their hands, re-train employees on the proper wear and use of respirators and ear plugs, replace worn out anti-fatigue mats, provide easily adjustable workstations, and prohibit dry sweeping to clean work areas.
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(2019) Exposures to metals and flame retardants at an electronics recycling company. (Click to open report) The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from an electronics recycling company. The managers were concerned about exposure to metals and flame retardants while recycling electronics. Our evaluation included collecting air, handwipe, and blood samples for flame retardants and metals. We also collected urine samples to evaluate flame retardant exposure. We found some flame retardants typically associated with electronics in the air, on employees' hands, in their blood, and in their ... (Click to show more)The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from an electronics recycling company. The managers were concerned about exposure to metals and flame retardants while recycling electronics. Our evaluation included collecting air, handwipe, and blood samples for flame retardants and metals. We also collected urine samples to evaluate flame retardant exposure. We found some flame retardants typically associated with electronics in the air, on employees' hands, in their blood, and in their urine. Surface wipe samples for flame retardants indicated that flame retardants were present in the workplace. Some employees had levels of lead in their blood above the CDC reference level of 5 micrograms per deciliter. Two personal air samples for silver were above occupational exposure limits. Our handwipe sampling demonstrated that there was potential for take-home contamination of lead and other metals. We observed incorrect respirator use and dry sweeping. Among several recommendations, we recommended blood lead level testing for all processing employees in the shred building, providing employees with a lead-removing product to wash their hands, retraining employees on the proper wear and use of respirators, and prohibiting dry sweeping to clean work areas. We also recommended the company ensure employees leave work-issued clothing and shoes at work, and that work-issued clothing is laundered on-site or through a contract laundry service.
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