Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA 97-0001-2643: S&B Engineers and Constructors, Ltd., Sweeny, Texas

Details

• Personal Author:
  Kiefer, Max ; Lushniak, Boris D.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  In response to a request from S-and-B Engineers employees working at the Phillips Sweeny Refinery (SIC-2911), Old Ocean, Texas, an investigation was begun into skin problems among workers at Unit 12, an ethylene production unit being renovated. Industrial hygiene data collected by Phillips personnel in Unit 12 were reviewed and materials were suggested which may be possible contributors to the skin problems being experienced, including catalysts, refinery residues, and cooling tower chemicals. Medical records were reviewed for 46 workers
  
  private interviews and skin exams were held with 34 current workers, two former workers, and four workers of subcontractors. Of the 34 current workers examined, nine had an active skin process consistent with a contact dermatitis. No single clinical pattern of skin findings and distributions was distinguished, and the affected workers participated in a variety of jobs. Bulk sample analyses did not identify any unexpected constituents or contaminants. The authors conclude that multiple environmental factors may have been responsible for the dermatitis in workers, including exposure to renovation activities and materials, the use of fire resistant coveralls, laundry practices, exposure to spent catalyst or residual chemical, and the use of certain soaps. The authors recommend measures to reduce the potential for exposure to contaminants.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Dermatitis Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Petroleum Protective Clothing Safety Skin Skin Diseases
• Keywords:
  Allergic Contact Dermatitis Catalyst Contact-dermatitis Contact Dermatitis Contractors Ethylene Refinery Fire-retardant Clothing Hazard-Confirmed HETA-97-0001-2643 Irritant Contact Dermatitis NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report OSHA Region 6 Petroleum-refineries Petroleum Refining Protective-clothing Skin-disorders Skin-exposure

  More +
• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• Subseries:
  Health Evaluation and Technical Assistance (HETA)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHHETA9700012643
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  Texas ; OSHA Region 6
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  15 pdf pages
• Contributor:
  McGraw, Patricia C. ; Mitchell, Kathleen
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00238619
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB98-106164
• Citation:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HETA 97-0001-2643, 1997 Jun ; :1-14
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1997
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  2911 - Petroleum refining - (SIC)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c6343deef1502b23d644fe46031e1e2181a489af11bd492b7f40e5d7454cca845bf7dce019c9acba61d54b5fc2aad86b10ed2fecc142107108ff7c01ef5fd8fe
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/171110/cdc_171110_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 753.77 KB ]