Walk-through survey report: perchloroethylene, Roycourt Cleaners, Detroit, Michigan

Technical Report · Tue Jan 08 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6582143

Roberts, D R

A walk-through survey was conducted at the Roycourt Cleaners, Detroit, Michigan to assess the exposure of workers at the facility to perchloroethylene (PCE). Battery operated pumps and charcoal tubes were used to collect the air samples. PCE has been used by the company in dry cleaning since 1971. About 76 liters of PCE are used each month and about 270 kilograms of clothing are cleaned each week. The company followed a routine maintenance program check twice a month at which time the gaskets and seals were inspected for leaks. Exposures in the dry cleaning area ranged from 0.4 to 11.0 parts per million (ppm) with peak exposures to the dry-cleaner ranging from 8.1 to 13ppm. Exposures were within the currently acceptable range. The author suggests that preplacement physical examinations be provided for workers, that engineering controls such as exhaust ventilation be installed, that respiratory protection be provided for use during emergencies such as spill cleanup, that protective clothing be used to prevent skin contact, that all employees be informed of the hazards of the job, and that storage containers, equipment, piping, and valves be checked periodically.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6582143
• Report Number(s): PB-89-129795/XAB; IWS-71.32.10
• 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 MONITORING
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
FEDERAL REGION V
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INSPECTION
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ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
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USA