Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 91-169-2196, Texprint Products, Macon, Georgia

Technical Report · Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:7008545

Decker, J A; Shults, R A

In response to a request from a union representative an evaluation was undertaken of possible hazardous working conditions at Texprint Products (SIC-2269), Macon, Georgia. Workers had complained of skin rashes and respiratory symptoms. The company was involved in the dyeing, printing and finishing of fabrics to be used for home furnishing and Japanese apparel. Exposures to formaldehyde (50000), caprolactam (105602), and mineral spirits were all well below established standards. Heat stress measurements were excessive. In one instance the core body temperature exceeded the recommended maximum of 38 degrees-C for one worker throughout the first shift. Eye irritation was reported by 25 (28%) of the workers with six (24%) reporting current or chronic rashes, seven (28%) reported headaches, and one (4%) reported more than one lower respiratory symptom. The authors conclude that a health hazard existed from excessive exposure to heat stress. Caustics and reactive dyes presented potential health hazards from dermal exposure. The authors recommend that a heat stress management program be implemented. The installation of engineering controls and the use of protective equipment by individual workers should be used to lessen the hazards of their jobs.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7008545
• Report Number(s): PB-92-219773/XAB; HETA-91-169-2196
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
FORMALDEHYDE
HEALTH HAZARDS
LACTAMS
DYES
HEAT
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERSONNEL
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SKIN
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TEXTILE INDUSTRY
WORKING CONDITIONS
ALDEHYDES
AMIDES
ANIMALS
BODY
DISEASES
ENERGY
HAZARDS
INDUSTRY
MAMMALS
MAN
MEDICINE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PRIMATES
VERTEBRATES
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology