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Title: Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 85-415-1806, Eccles Saw and Tool Company, Cincinnati, Ohio

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5413847

In response to an employee request, an evaluation was made of metal-dust exposures from the process of sharpening saw blades and tools at the Eccles Saw and Tool Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. In two personal air samples, the following concentrations were determined: cobalt, 26 and 63 micrograms/cubic meter (microg/m/sup 3/); tungsten, 365 and 925 microg/m/sup 3/; nickel, 3.9 and 9.3 microg/m/sup 3/; cadmium, less than 2 microg/m/sup 3/; and silver, less than 2 microg/m/sup 3/. Air containing cobalt at 30 microg/m/sup 3/ and nickel at 7 microg/m/sup 3/ was being discharged back into the workspace from the recirculated local-exhaust ventilation air. A medical evaluation was performed on three workers; all three reported coughing four to six times a day, four or more days per week, with occasional episodes of wheezing. Two of these employees were grinders, having been working at the company for 15 and 85 months, while the other was a truck driver, who spent about 3 hours per day in the shop, but did no grinding.

Research Organization:
National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
OSTI ID:
5413847
Report Number(s):
PB-88-149224/XAB; HETA-85-415-1806
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English