Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 84-401-1784, Nutech Corporation, Denver, Colorado

Technical Report · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5946641

Pryor, P

In response to a request from management at the NuTech Chemical Corporation located in Denver, Colorado, an evaluation was made of possible employee exposure to copper sulfate, sulfuric acid, and acetic acid at the facility. The company has recently begun producing odorizing chemicals for sulfuric acid waste treatment, food and by-products operations, set odors, and other uses. Personal breathing-zone and area samples for acetic acid ranged from 12.6 to 51.3 mg/cu m, indicating that some exceeded the OSHA Standard of 25 mg/cu m. Before the employees began using personal protective clothing, they had experienced irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. Sulfuric acid and copper sulfate were not detected. The author recommends that a local exhaust ventilation system be installed in the chemical mixing location. An eyewash station and safety shower should be made immediately accessible to workers. Preplacement and periodic medical examinations should be instituted giving particular attention to skin, eyes, teeth, and respiratory-tract problems and including pulmonary function tests.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5946641
• Report Number(s): PB-87-222154/XAB; HETA-84-401-1784
• 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
ACETIC ACID
AIR POLLUTION
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER SULFATES
GASEOUS WASTES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INDUSTRY
INORGANIC ACIDS
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SAFETY
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFURIC ACID
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VENTILATION
WASTES