Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 86-162-1782, Continental Refrigeration Corporation, Exton, Pennsylvania

Technical Report · Sat Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5885163

Ruhe, R L

A request was made for a hazard evaluation at the Continental Refrigeration Corporation in Exton, Pennsylvania, to determine possible worker exposure to welding fumes and other materials used in foam filling, assembly and crating operations, including solvents and carbon monoxide. Personal breathing-zone air samples were analyzed for particulates, aluminum, iron, zinc, toluene, petroleum distillate, methylene chloride, methyl ethyl ketone, and methylene bisphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). Exposures to methylene chloride ranged from 29 to 213mg/cu m. No overexposures were registered for welding fumes, solvents, MDI or carbon monoxide during these sampling periods. The author concludes that a potential hazard exists from methylene chloride exposure. According to the author, the level of methylene chloride should be lowered through substitution with a less-hazardous process material, automation, ventilation, improved work practices or a combination of these steps. Some lowering of carbon monoxide levels would be achieved through better design criteria of the lift-truck ventilation system and modifications of facility operations in this regard.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5885163
• Report Number(s): PB-87-223228/XAB; HETA-86-162-1782
• 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 POLLUTION
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
ISOCYANATES
MACHINERY
MANUFACTURING
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
POLLUTION
REFRIGERATING MACHINERY
SAFETY
SOLVENTS
TOXICITY
VENTILATION