Health-hazard evaluation report HETA-84-288-1847, Wheel Trueing Tool Company, Columbia, South Carolina

Technical Report · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:7126566

Salisbury, S A; Seligman, P J

An investigation was made of possible exposures to chemicals and metal powders during the manufacturing of diamond-studded and diamond-impregnated cutting tools. Employees registered complaints of gastrointestinal, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory problems, skin rashes, and a metallic taste in their mouths. Four of the 37 air samples collected showed cobalt levels exceeding the 0.1mg/m/sup 3/ limit established by OSHA. Six samples revealed the presence of nickel, three of which exceeded the 0.015mg/m/sup 3/ NIOSH recommended limit. Excessive graphite levels were detected. No evidence of hard metal disease or mixed dust pneumoconiosis was found. The authors conclude that there is a hazard from exposure to cobalt, nickel, and graphite dust. The authors recommend measures to reduce and monitor worker exposures to cobalt and to establish a medical monitoring program for all cobalt exposed workers.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7126566
• Report Number(s): PB-88-203682/XAB; HETA-84-288-1847
• 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
CARBON
COBALT
CUTTING TOOLS
DIAMONDS
DISEASES
DUSTS
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
GRAPHITE
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRY
MANUFACTURING
MATERIALS
METAL INDUSTRY
METALS
MINERALS
NICKEL
NONMETALS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PNEUMOCONIOSES
POLLUTION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
TOOLS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS