Hazard-evaluation and technical-assistance report HETA-86-420-l2051, General Foam Corporation, West Hazleton, Pennsylvania

Technical Report · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6286669

Blade, L M; Richardson, F D; Fidler, A T

In response to a request from Local Union 15371 of the United Steelworkers of America, a study was undertaken of possible hazardous working conditions at General Foam Corporation, West Hazleton, Pennsylvania. The facility had two foam production departments. Each had a continuous foam pouring line that produces long blocks of foam that were cut into lengths ranging from a few feet to 200 feet. Both foam pouring lines produce a variety of polyurethane foams from formulations incorporating polyester or polyether polyol, a mixture of 2,4-toluene-diisocyanate and 2,6-toluene-diisocyanate, various amine catalysts, and other chemicals including a blowing agent. No association was established between amine exposure levels and visual symptoms or deficits in visual acuity tests among the employees studied. One of ten samples for methylene-chloride exceeded the 8 hour time weighted average limit of 50 parts per million. The authors conclude that a potential health hazard did exist at the time of the survey from airborne exposure to both toluene-diisocyanate isomers. The authors recommend specific measures for improving working conditions at this site.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6286669
• Report Number(s): PB-91-117218/XAB; HETA--86-420-L2051
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FEDERAL REGION III
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROCARBONS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
ISOCYANATES
MATERIALS
METHYLENE CHLORIDE
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PENNSYLVANIA
PERSONNEL
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLLUTION
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERS
POLYURETHANES
RECOMMENDATIONS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TOLUENE
USA