Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA-91-0386-2427: Distinctive Designs International, Inc.; Russellville, Alabama

Details

• Personal Author:
  Jennison, Elizabeth A. ; Piacitelli, Chris A.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  In response to a request from the State of Alabama Department of Public Health, an investigation was begun into the death of a 31-year-old employee who had become ill following working with diphenylmethane diisocyanate (101688) at Distinctive Designs International (SIC-3999), Russellville, Alabama. The company produced artificial plant and tree arrangements. Detectable concentrations of monomeric MDI were found in two of the five full shift area air samples collected in impingers. Vapors/aerosols were observed rising into the faces of workers working with the foam. The medical portion of the survey consisted of a questionnaire, occupational and exposure histories, medical findings, spirometry, and serial peak flow measurements. Of the 93 current employees, 80 participated in some aspect of the survey. Those who reported high exposure to the polyurethane foaming process were more likely to report work related nasal and eye irritation than individuals in other exposure categories. Self-reported exposure to the foaming process was not associated with any other symptoms, nor was it related to pulmonary function. Of 111 former employees, 35 were surveyed. Four of these had left the work due to a lung or respiratory problem which they felt to be potentially work related. Sixteen prior employees had spirometry testing, and all had normal results. The authors conclude that a potential health hazard existed at the time of the survey. The authors recommend that workers be informed of the potential hazards of MDI exposure, and that a medical surveillance program, improved ventilation, and adequate personal protective equipment be provided.
• Subjects:
  Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic Isocyanates Lung Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Artificial Flower Arrangements-manufacturing Diphenylmethane Diisocyanate Hazard-Confirmed HETA-91-0386-2427 Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Lung-function Lung-irritants MDI NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report Occupational-exposure OSHA Region 4 Polyurethane Foam Pulmonary-function-tests Respiratory-system-disorders

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• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• Subseries:
  Health Evaluation and Technical Assistance (HETA)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHHETA9103862427
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  Alabama ; OSHA Region 4
• 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:
  30 pdf pages
• Contributor:
  Burkhart, Joseph E. ; Husberg, Brad ; Ugolini, Corrado
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00222308
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB95-147070
• Citation:
  Cincinnati, Ohio: 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 91-0386-2427, 1994 May ; :1-30
• CAS Registry Number:
  4,4’-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (CAS RN 101-68-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1994
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  3999 - Manufacturing industries, not elsewhere classified - (SIC)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:34d16e21d8ac6bf6398730de9928ee6b5f081227ee7b20f36c18c62ecbbbd1831e41fec61352978c3df9e7537d06dbd657d13f23021e4ccc346a73330050ed39
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/171335/cdc_171335_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 226.18 KB ]