Request for assistance in preventing death from excessive exposure to chlorofluorocarbon 113 (CFC-113)
Due to the recent incidence of death among a number of workers exposed to chlorofluorocarbon-113 (CFC-113) in confined spaces or in areas with insufficient ventilation, the need for worker education as to the hazards of this chemical and the means of using it safely were stressed. The vapors of CFC-113 can cause death by cardiac arrhythmia or asphyxiation. Due to its high vapor pressure, CFC-113 can produce high ambient concentrations of vapor during normal use of the liquid. Four case reports were included which described 12 fatalities resulting from occupational exposure to CFC-113 in confined spaces. In the case studies, workers died while driving a military tank which had been flushed with CFC-113, while cleaning the inside of a small degreasing tank with CFC-113, while using CFC-113 to test for leaks in compressed air lines in a small room aboard a marine vessel, and while cleaning a vapor/ultrasonic degreasing tank where metal parts were cleaned with CFC-113. In each case, proper protective equipment was not being used and the air quality in the confined space death case had not been checked prior to entry. Recommendations for controlling exposures to CFC-113 and other chlorofluorocarbons concerned hazard awareness, training, engineering controls, confined spaces, medical considerations, and personal protective equipment.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5222987
- Report Number(s):
- PB-90-103391/XAB; DHHS/PUB/NIOSH--89-109
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
552000 -- Public Health
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ACCIDENTS
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
CLOTHING
DEATH
FREONS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
RECOMMENDATIONS
SAFETY
VENTILATION