Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 91-298-2182, Gibson Flatiron, Erica Shell Manufacturing, Bozeman, Montana

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5014337

McCammon, C S

In response to a request from the Montana State Health Department, an evaluation was undertaken of exposures to wood dust and lacquer vapors at the Gibson Flatiron/Erica Shell Manufacturing Companies (SIC-3931), Bozeman, Montana. Gibson Flatiron manufactured mandolins and banjoes. Erica Shell Manufacturing Company cuts and grinds abalone and other sea shells into small pieces to be used in designs inlayed into mandolins and banjos. Measured wood dust levels ranged from 0.8 to 32mg/cu m with an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) of 1.2 to 30mg/cu m. Rib construction and assembly, and planing bulk ebony wood had TWA exposures above the OSHA permissible exposure limit of 5mg/cu m for wood dust. Application of dyes and finishes resulted in low exposures to acetone (67641), toluene (108883), xylene (1330207), and butyl-acetate (123864). No solvent air concentrations were above 10% of their respective PELs. The author concludes that a health hazard existed for exposure to wood dusts. The author recommends the establishment of a respiratory protection program and a hearing conservation program. Emergency egress routes should be marked in the buildings.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5014337
• Report Number(s): PB-92-184175/XAB; HETA--91-298-2182
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACETONE
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
BUILDINGS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DYES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FEDERAL REGION VIII
HYDROCARBONS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INHALATION
INTAKE
KETONES
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE CONCENTRATION
MEDICINE
MONITORING
MONTANA
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
RECOMMENDATIONS
SAFETY STANDARDS
SOLVENTS
STANDARDS
TOLUENE
TOXICITY
USA
XYLENES