Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 86-284-1914, H. B. Smith Company, Inc. , Westfield, Massachusetts

Technical Report · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6519467

McManus, K P; Bicknell, R J; Klincewicz, S

In response to a request from Local 95, Molders and Allied Workers Union, an evaluation was made of exposures to chemicals at the H.B. Smith Company, Inc., Westfield, Massachusetts, due to concern over symptoms of breathing difficulties experienced by workers. Workers at the foundry were involved in coremaking, mold making, casting, shake out, and knockout operations. Possible exposures to carbon monoxide (CO), respirable free silica, dimethylethylamine(DMEA), and acrolein were determined. Acrolein was not detected. CO levels ranged from 0.3 to 95 parts per million (ppm), and DMEA was found at 0.9 to 10.4mg/mT. The respirable free silica ranged up to 0.54mg/mT. Pulmonary function tests and x rays showed no evidence of silicotic lung disease. The authors conclude that a health hazard existed due to worker exposures to respirable free silica, DMEA, and CO. The authors recommend measures to reduce worker exposures, including a mandatory personal protective-equipment policy, administrative and engineering controls for CO, improvements in ventilation, and periodic medical examinations.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA). Div. of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies
• OSTI ID: 6519467
• Report Number(s): PB-89-130157/XAB; HETA-86-284-1914
• 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
AMINES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLOTHING
FOUNDRIES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
RECOMMENDATIONS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
TOXICITY
VENTILATION