Occupational exposures during routine activities in coal-fueled power plants

Journal Article · Tue Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2004 · Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15459620490453346· OSTI ID:20489977

Bird, M J; MacIntosh, D L; Williams, P L ^[1]

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1. University of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States). Dept. of Environmental Health Science

Limited information is available on occupational exposures during routine, nonoutage work activities in coal-fueled power plants. This study evaluated occupational exposures to the principal contaminants in the facilities, including respirable dust (coal dust), arsenic, noise, asbestos, and heat stress. The data were collected over a 3-month period, during the summer of 2001. Each of the 5 facilities was divided into 5 similar exposure groups based on previous exposure assessments and job tasks performed. Of the nearly 400 air samples collected, only 1 exceeded the allowable occupational exposure value. For the noise samples, 55 (about 18%) were equal to or greater than the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 8-hour hearing conservation program level of 85 dBA, and 12 (about 4%) were equal to or greater than the OSHA 8-hour permissible exposure level of 90 dBA. Heat stress monitoring at the facilities indicates that 26% of the 1-hour TWAs were exceeded for one or all of the recommended heat stress limits. The data also concluded that some work sites were above the heat stress ceiling values recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Four of the 20 employees personally monitored exceeded the recommended limits for heart rate or body core temperature. This suggests there is a potential for heat strain if signs and symptoms are ignored. Recommendations are made to better control the heat stress exposure.

• OSTI ID: 20489977
• Journal Information: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Journal Name: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 1; ISSN 1545-9624
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
ARSENIC
ASBESTOS
COAL
DUSTS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
HEAT
NOISE POLLUTION
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERSONNEL
RISK ASSESSMENT