Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 85-449-1781, COSCO, Inc. , Columbus, Indiana

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

OSTI ID:5968558

Hartle, R W; Albrecht, W

A health evaluation was requested by employees at COSCO Inc., Columbus, Indiana, concerning exposures to hazardous materials in the spray-paint area, silk screening, welding, plastic regrind, press area, router area, and plating department. The facility was engaged in the manufacture of juvenile and household furniture. Employees had complained of eye, nose, and throat irritation plus skin rashes and a burning sensation on the lips among the heat-seal department employees. The study showed that one heat-seal operator was exposed in excess of the OSHA standard for radiofrequency energy waves of 10 milliwatts/cm/sup 2/. Breathing-zone monitoring of welders indicated that one of them was exposed to excessive levels of airborne nickel at 37 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/ (NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit of 15 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/). The authors recommend that either the manufacturers of the heat-sealing devices or a private consultant be contracted to reduce the exposure from these machines. One traditional method would be through shielding. An improvement in the ventilation system at the welding area would solve the problem of nickel exposure. General recommendations include avoidance of disposing of solvent soaked rags in a noncovered receptacle and not using solvents as general cleaning compounds, particularly for hand cleaning prior to breaks or at the end of the shift.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5968558
• Report Number(s): PB-87-223186/XAB; HETA-85-449-1781
• 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
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FABRICATION
FURNITURE INDUSTRY
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROCARBONS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INDUSTRY
INSPECTION
JOINING
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
METALS
NICKEL
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
POLLUTION
SAFETY
SOLS
SOLVENTS
SPRAYS
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WELDING
WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY
XYLENES