In-depth survey report: evaluation of brake-drum-service controls at United States Postal Service, vehicle maintenance facility, Nashville, Tennessee

Technical Report · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5383531

Godbey, F W; Cooper, T C; Sheehy, J W; O'Brien, D M; Van Wagenen, H D

The effectiveness of a brake-washer assembly unit (Kleer-Flo Model LW-22 Rollabout) for limiting exposure to asbestos during the servicing of automotive brakes was evaluated as the U.S. Post Office Maintenance Garage in Nashville, TN. A fleet of 575 Jeep delivery vehicles are serviced at the facility. Most of the vehicles had 13- or 14-inch wheels and 10-inch long brake shoes. Ventilation in the garage was minimal. During winter months, there was no provision for fresh, heated air from the outside. When the 14 bay doors were open in the summer, they provided good ventilation in conjunction with roof fans. One gallon of concentrated detergent, Greasoff No. 19, was used diluted to clean 40 to 50 wheels. Very low asbestos exposures were recorded when the washing assembly was in operation. Personal air samples for the brake mechanics averaged less than the detection limit of 0.004 fibers/cubic centimeter (f/cc) with only one sample above 0.004f/cc. Of the ten vehicles tested, fibers found in the drums were between 83 to 100% chrysotile, with two vehicles having 100% asbestos fibers.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5383531
• Report Number(s): PB-88-162193/XAB; ECTB-152-20B
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AIR QUALITY
ASBESTOS
BRAKES
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
MACHINE PARTS
MAINTENANCE FACILITIES
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
SAFETY
TOXICITY
VEHICLES