Survey report, Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, May 11, 1977

Technical Report · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6621132

Dement, J M; Robinson, C; Ludwig, H R

The Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was investigated to assess potential health hazards and medical problems. The survey was limited to the finishing department and one tile department, where methylene-bis-4-cyclohexylisocyanate was used as a coating compound. There were 8 to 12 cases of dermatitis reported in a given year. No cases of isocyanate sensitization were reported. No emergency spill procedures were posted in any of the finishing areas. No medical monitoring was provided to workers in the area. Ventilation for the coater process was extremely poor. No protective clothing was worn by workers handling the coated tiles. Odors were especially strong. Open buckets of solvent were observed, and no protective clothing or respiratory protection was required. NIOSH recommends that ventilation on the coater and heating kettle be improved. It also suggests that emergency spill-cleanup procedures be posted and all solvent containers be covered. All provisions in the NIOSH Diisocyanate Criteria Document should be followed, including those for medical examinations.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6621132
• Report Number(s): PB-88-248828/XAB; IWS-83.10
• 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
COATINGS
DERMATITIS
DISEASES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
ISOCYANATES
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
POLLUTION
SKIN DISEASES
SOLVENTS
TOXICITY
VENTILATION