Health Hazard Evaluation Determination Report: HHE-79-100-665: L.R.I. Industries; Chelsea, Michigan

Details

• Personal Author:
  McGlothlin, James D.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  In response to a request from the United Auto Workers, Local 437, an evaluation was made of possible hazardous exposures to dusts containing silica (7631869) and other toxic compounds at L.R.I. Industries, Chelsea, Michigan. This facility manufactures ceramic tumbling media for mass finishing of metal parts. General area and personal breathing samples were taken in all areas where dust could settle or be generated. The batchware operator, special refractory operator, and the pug mill operator were slightly overexposed to respirable free silica. All noise measurements taken exceeded the NIOSH recommended levels of 85 decibels-A (dBA) for an 8 hour workday and the OSHA standard of 90dBA. The author concludes that hazards existed from exposure to noise, free silica and unsanitary eating conditions at this facility. The author recommends that the exhaust ventilation system for the batchware operator be redesigned so as to reduce dust exposure. Housekeeping throughout the facility should be improved, and worn gaskets around duct work should be repaired or replaced. Engineering controls should be utilized to reduce noise in inspection and pug mill areas. The pug mill machine should have rubber gaskets and mufflers installed. The salvage machine has already been isolated from the workers. Medical surveillance should be upgraded. NIOSH approved respirators should be used. An eating facility should be established which is separate from the factory area.
• Subjects:
  Asbestos Dust Ear Inorganic Chemicals Noise Occupational Health Safety Sense Organs Silicon Dioxide
• Keywords:
  Ceramic Tumbling Chips Free Silica Hazards-Confirmed HHE-79-100-665 Kiln NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation Noise-exposure OSHA Region 5 Respirable-dust Silica-dusts

  More +
• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHHHE79100665
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• 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:
  12 pdf pages
• Contributor:
  Woodruff, Jackie
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00179187
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB80-174790
• Citation:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HHE 79-100-665, 1980 Feb ; :1-12
• CAS Registry Number:
  Silica (CAS RN 7631-86-9)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1980
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:18e26840fc621e0e8611cfbef4646d1ef51e7536b5b0f709ae43b2f6cb2d9e1e841950e26d695c7f98a02e448d3a53320bec205ad307afa930af6305b4a8ee64
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/171960/cdc_171960_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 853.12 KB ]