Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 87-238-1814, Kountry Kreations, Towanda, Pennsylvania

Technical Report · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5002791

Burr, G A

In response to a request from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, an evaluation was made of complaints associated with handling imported grape vine wreaths at the Kountry Kreations in Towanda, Pennsylvania. Kountry Kreations produced decorative craft items for the wholesale market. The wreaths were imported from Taiwan. Complaints from employees included headache, sore throat, watering eyes, extreme tiredness, blurry vision, sore neck, nausea, upset stomach, chills, loss of concentration, rapid heartbeat, rash, and leg twitches. Various aliphatic hydrocarbons, alkyl substituted benzenes, naphthalenes, and styrene were detected nor was there evidence of methylene bromide. The author concludes that a potential health hazard existed due to improper ventilation at the facility. The introduction of fresh, outside air was insufficient and the inadequate containment of contaminant producing processes were the major contributors to the problem. The author recommends worker education of the hazards associated with craft materials and proper work habits. Specific mention was made that the glue-melting pots be operated in the temperature range specified by the manufacturer of the adhesives.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5002791
• Report Number(s): PB-88-149240/XAB; HETA-87-238-1814
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
BENZENE
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
NAPHTHALENE
STYRENE
TOXICITY
VAPORS
VENTILATION
AIR POLLUTION
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SOLVENTS
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
552000 - Public Health