Health-hazard evaluation report No. HETA 86-121-1923, Modern Plating Corporation, Freeport, Illinois

Technical Report · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6078419

Daniels, W J; Orris, P; Kramkowski, R; Almaguer, D

A study was made of possible hazardous working conditions at the Modern Plating Company, located in Freeport, Illinois. This company provided electroplating services for a variety of customers who require specialized plating for their products. At the time of the study the company employed 87 salaried and hourly staff. Prior to electroplating the surface of the workpiece was cleaned using solvent, acid, and alkaline materials. While several employees complained of episodic mucous membrane irritation, there were no chronic work-related health effects or nasal perforations noted. Symptoms were often linked to the addition of new acid to the plating baths in areas in which employees were working when the local exhaust ventilation did not function properly. Environmental sampling for cyanides and inorganic acids were all below their respective evaluation criteria. Electroplaters were exposed to cadmium, chromium (VI), and nickel in both personal and area samples. The authors recommend that the current ventilation system be evaluated for major deficiencies which adversely affected the performance of the overall system, that local exhaust ventilation systems be evaluated periodically, and that employees be provided with proper protective equipment and follow better work practices.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6078419
• Report Number(s): PB-89-152342/XAB; HETA-86-121-1923
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ELECTROPLATING
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
PARTICULATES
METAL INDUSTRY
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
CADMIUM
CHROMIUM
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
NICKEL
RECOMMENDATIONS
TOXICITY
AIR POLLUTION
DEPOSITION
ELECTRODEPOSITION
ELECTROLYSIS
ELEMENTS
INDUSTRY
LYSIS
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
METALS
PARTICLES
PLATING
POLLUTION
SURFACE COATING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
552000 - Public Health