Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 84-108-1821, Niemand Industries, Inc. , Statesville, North Carolina
In response to a request from Local 919 of the United Paperworkers International Union, a study was made of possible excessive use of solvents and solvent-based adhesives in the Film Winding Department of Niemand Industries located in Statesville, North Carolina. Workers in the department reported frequent headaches, dizziness, nausea, and other acute symptoms. Exposure levels for methyl ethyl ketone ranged from 19 to 60 parts per million (ppm); for dioxane, from 7 to 14 ppm; and methylene chloride, from 32 to 211 ppm. Carboxyhemoglobin values (an index of exposure to methylene chloride) from smokers were within normal limits, but did increase over the period of the work shift. The authors conclude that a potential health risk did exist to workers exposed to these solvent vapors. They recommend that worker complaints be monitored regularly, that local exhaust ventilation be designed and installed for all film-winding machines and glue stands, that worker education programs be instituted, that direct skin contact be prevented through use of personal protective clothing, that solvents containing dioxane be eliminated from use, and that methylene chloride not be used as a cleanup solvent.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5091565
- Report Number(s):
- PB-88-153283/XAB; HETA-84-108-1821
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Health hazard evaluation report HETA 82-212-1553, Screen Printing Shops, Boston, Massachusetts and Denton, Maryland areas
Health hazard evaluation report HETA 95-0192-2538, Schlegel Tennessee, Inc., Maryville, Tennessee
Related Subjects
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ADHESIVES
AIR POLLUTION
DIOXANE
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INDUSTRY
INSPECTION
KETONES
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
METHYLENE CHLORIDE
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PAPER INDUSTRY
POLLUTION
SOLVENTS
TOXICITY
WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY