Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA-87-262-1852: Artistic Awards; Colorado Springs, Colorado

Details

• Personal Author:
  Lee, Stephen A.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  In response to a request from Artistic Awards Co. (SIC-3499), Colorado Springs, Colorado, a study was made of possible exposure to lead (7439921) during lead medallion production. An elevated blood lead level had been found in one worker with symptoms of weakness and fatigue. Personal breathing zone air samples obtained from the areas of casting and engraving showed levels of 7.3 to 8.0 micrograms/cubic meter (microg/m3). Samples collected during grinding and buffing of lead medallions indicated lead concentration in the breathing zone of 1300 to 1900microg/m3. Each of four grinding and buffing stations was fitted with a well enclosed ventilation hood. At one station, the ductwork was clogged with buffing wheel material and ducts at the other three stations were disconnected inside the cabinets. Excessive levels of lead in the air resulted from a lack of local exhaust ventilation in this area. Workers in this room wore half face respirators
  
  however, the respirator which was worn by the worker who had the elevated blood lead level failed to pass a fit test. After improvements had been made, the ventilation system was observed to be very effective. Lead exposures during buffing and grinding operations had been reduced to below the limit of detection, 6microg/m3. The author concludes that one worker has been overexposed to lead due to a poorly fitted respirator, and possibly to ingestion of lead deposited on food or drinks.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Blood Dust Lead Lead Poisoning Metals Metal Workers Occupational Health Particulate Matter Personal Protective Equipment Poisoning Respiratory Protective Devices Safety

  More +
• Keywords:
  Airborne-particles Blood Lead Dust-control Fabricated Metal Products Hazard-Confirmed HETA-87-262-1852 Inorganic Lead Lead-poisoning Metal-dusts Metal-workers NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report OSHA Region 8 Respirators Respiratory-protective-equipment

  More +
• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• Subseries:
  Health Evaluation and Technical Assistance (HETA)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHHETA872621852
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; OSHA Region 8
• 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:
  7 pdf pages
• Contributor:
  DiGiacomo, Marile F.
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00178060
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB88-203807
• Citation:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HETA 87-262-1852, 1987 Nov ; :1-8
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1988
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  3499 - Fabricated metal products, not elsewhere classified - (SIC)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c7d0eabcca7e78001a2502900e8ee0340845f10222030b2d351ecb4edc04f28fe88b059bff7cfe774d5c6e3cf5931e81da9ef5565dd2aabb3df8fb7c43d6a8f5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/172037/cdc_172037_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 139.12 KB ]