Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA 94–0402–2573: Xerox Corporation, Webster, New York

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cook, Calvin K. ; Friedman, Deborah B.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  In response to a request from the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 71, an investigation was made into possible hazardous working conditions at the Xerox Corporation (SIC-3861, SIC- 3443), Webster, New York. Concern was expressed regarding the exposure to a biocide containing isothiazolinones during maintenance activities in water cooling towers at the Xerox powerplant. Workers had reported cases of dermatitis and skin rash associated with occupational exposure to the biocide. The powerplant at the Xerox facility employed about 62 workers on three shifts. Workers at the powerplant were responsible for providing general maintenance duties on the water-cooling towers. Of the 22 towers on site, 18 were treated with biocide. Full shift personal breathing zone samples did not reveal the presence of chlorinated or unchlorinated isothiazolinones. An area air sample taken above a biocide storage tank for 15 minutes revealed an isothiazolinone concentration of 0.92mg/m3. Of the 31 respondents to a questionnaire on medical experiences, 74% reported they had at least one of the acute symptoms of skin, eyes, and respiratory irritation while working with biocides. The authors conclude that there was a potential for a short-term overexposure to biocides at this site. The authors recommend that workers use appropriate personal protective equipment during water cooling tower maintenance activities.
• Subjects:
  Maintenance Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Skin Skin Diseases
• Keywords:
  Biocide Cooling-towers Eye Irritation Hazard-Confirmed HETA-94-0402-2573 Isothiazolinones Maintenance-workers NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report Occupational-exposure OSHA Region 2 Photocopy Machines Power Plant Respiratory Irritation Skin-disorders Skin Irritation Water Cooling Tower

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• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• Subseries:
  Health Evaluation and Technical Assistance (HETA)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHHETA9404022573
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• 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:
  13 pdf pages
• Contributor:
  Blythe, Ellen E.
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00231102
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB96-209655
• 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 94-0402-2573, 1996 Apr ; :1-9
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1996
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  3861 - Photographic equipment and supplies - (SIC) ; 3443 - Fabricated plate work (boiler shops) - (SIC)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:121fcd256d3a470f7ed140ec13fecdaf8375220bf6ed9e19a0e27b2e764a830a6892e39c0776e14b0eeeec9a8af5144516765b009ea685867b136851156fa4dd
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/171201/cdc_171201_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 326.89 KB ]