Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 85-041-1709, City of Columbus Refuse-derived Fuel Power Plant, Columbus, Ohio

Technical Report · Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6881414

Ahrenholz, S H

Potential for heat stress along with exposure to chemical contaminants and airborne microbial pollutants was investigated at the City refuse-derived-fuel powerplant. Health hazards existed to lead and silica exposures for workers involved in handling ash. Low levels of exposure to chromium, chromium-VI, cadmium, and nickel were noted. Excessive heat stress occurred during the maintenance activities in hot areas of the facility. Airborne microbial contamination levels in the refuse-handling areas indicate that exposure hazards exist by both the inhalation and ingestion routes. Human pathogens may be present in the microbial pollutants. The author recommends that employee exposure to lead be reduced through the use of engineering controls. Eating, drinking, and carrying or use of tobacco products or cosmetics in the power plant and refuse handling areas should be prohibited. Recommended methods for controlling heat stress were given.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6881414
• Report Number(s): PB-87-117073/XAB; HETA-85-041-1709
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ASHES
TOXIC MATERIALS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
METALS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYPERTHERMIA
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
REFUSE-FUELED POWER PLANTS
CADMIUM
CHROMIUM
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INGESTION
INHALATION
INSPECTION
LEAD
NICKEL
SILICA
TOXICITY
BODY TEMPERATURE
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
HAZARDS
INTAKE
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
MINERALS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER PLANTS
RESIDUES
SAFETY
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
200103* - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Waste-Fueled Systems
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
552000 - Public Health