Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 88-077-1969, Consolidated Freightways, Peru, Illinois

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:7069901

Blade, L M; Savery, H

A study was made of possible hazardous working conditions at Consolidated Freightways, Peru, Illinois. The dock workers were complaining of respiratory tract and eye irritation, the production of black colored mucus or phlegm, other respiratory difficulties, and headaches. The night shift was experiencing the most difficulties; this was the time when operations were heaviest. The function of the terminal was to receive large, long-distance loads, and break them down into smaller, short-distance loads. The workers used forklift trucks to move cargo. Workers were exposed to diesel-engine exhaust emissions, particularly during cold weather as the engines were left running to avoid difficult start-up problems. Airborne exposures were below recommended limits for all materials tested with the possible exception of the benzene extractable fraction of diesel particulate. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 115 workers concerning their medical status. The report concludes that the irritative effects described were consistent with exposure to diesel exhaust. Efforts should be made to reduce or eliminate emissions from diesel forklifts trucks, improve ventilation, and provide washing and clothes changing facilities.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7069901
• Report Number(s): PB-90-129040/XAB; HETA--88-077-1969
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AIR POLLUTION
DIESEL ENGINES
ENGINES
EXHAUST GASES
FLUIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HEAT ENGINES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
MATERIALS
MATERIALS HANDLING
MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
POLLUTION
SAFETY
TERMINAL FACILITIES
TOXIC MATERIALS
TOXICITY
WASTES