Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 86-206-1744, Rotorex, Walkersville, Maryland. [Trichloroethylene]
In response to a labor/management request, an evaluation was made of sudden illness in workers at the Rotorex facility in Walkersville, Maryland, employing about 350 workers. The facility had been closed after an explosion on January 29, 1986, due to a malfunctioning boiler-regulator valve. After reopening on February 3, ten employees became ill with headaches, nausea, dizziness, and chest pain. Eight were tested for carbon-monoxide (CO) blood levels; five had elevated carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels. Another outbreak occurred on February 19, with 18 employees removed by stretcher. Tests for CO, trichloroethylene (TCE), fluorocarbons, and methylene chloride exposure were negative. The authors conclude that illness on February 3 was due to combined CO and TCE exposures; illness on February 19 was an anxiety reaction. It is recommended that a joint management/union health and safety committee be formed that meets regularly, with easy employee access. Development of evacuation procedures, evaluation of ventilation systems, study of welding and brazing operations for hazardous substances, determination of oil mist levels, weekly bacterial check of central coolant, evaluation of Freon-11 use in open cans, study of noise exposure, and replacement of a welding curtain are additional recommendations.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 7157463
- Report Number(s):
- PB-88-188362/XAB; HETA-86-206-1744
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Absence of symptoms with carboxyhemoglobin levels of 16-23%
Health-hazard evaluation determination report No. 77-27-437, Keller Aluminum Furniture of Indiana, Linton, Indiana
Related Subjects
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AIR POLLUTION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
MACHINERY
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
REFRIGERATING MACHINERY
TOXICITY
VENTILATION