Evaluation of Exposures and Respiratory Health at a Rubber Manufacturing Facility

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bailey, Rachel L. ; Cox-Ganser, Jean M. ; Martin, Stephen B. Jr. ; Nett, Randall J. ; Park, Ju-Hyeong ; Tomasi, Suzanne E.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  We evaluated potential respiratory exposures during production and the respiratory health of employees at a rubber manufacturing facility. More than 90 volatile organic compounds were identified from 10 locations using integrated sampling. Two hundred sixty-nine (74%) participants reported at least one upper respiratory symptom in the past 12 months, and 160 (59%) of these participants reported their symptoms improved when away from work or something at work aggravated the symptoms. Participating employees were 2.5 times more likely to reported wheezing or whistling in their chest compared with the U.S. general population. Participants were 1.3 times more likely to report stuffy, itchy, or runny nose and 1.5 times more likely to report shortness of breath on level ground compared with the U.S. general population. Participants working in extrusion were 1.8 times more likely to report work-related upper respiratory symptoms and 3.7 times more likely to report work-related breathing trouble compared with participants from non-production departments. Participants working in mixing were 2.8 time more likely to report work-related upper respiratory symptoms, 4.3 times more likely to report work-related usual cough, and 4.1 times more likely to report trouble with phlegm compared with participants from non-production departments. There was not an excess of spirometry abnormalities in comparison with the general U.S. population. Overall, the local exhaust ventilation systems throughout the facility provided good capture of released contaminants with the exception of the canopy hoods. We recommend limiting employee exposures to rubber manufacturing emissions by ensuring all ventilation units are functioning properly. Because participants in extrusion, finishing, and mixing had higher prevalences of respiratory symptoms, we recommend implementing a medical surveillance program for employees who work in extrusion, finishing, or mixing. We also recommend health and safety infographics and translating health and safety communication materials to common languages spoken at the facility.
• Subjects:
  Asthma Asthma, Occupational Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Health Promotion Lung Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Rubber Safety Ventilation Volatile Organic Compounds

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• Keywords:
  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD Employee Exposure Exhaust Hoods Exposure Assessment Health Communications Manufacturing Medical Monitoring Occupational Asthma OSHA Region 5 Recommendations Respiratory Disease Respiratory Irritants Respiratory System Disorders Rubber Rubber Manufacturing Rubber Manufacturing Industry Rubber Products Rubber Workers Sampling Ventilation Equipment Ventilation Systems VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds Volatiles

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• Source:
  Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HHE 2016-0227-3364, 2019 Oct ; :1-60
• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHHHE201602273364
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  Indiana ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  RHD - Respiratory Health Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  68 pdf pages
• Contributor:
  Alexander, Barbara ; Beaty, Mike ; Boylstein, Randy ; Cale, Diana ; Chiu, Sophia ; Cummings, Kristin ; Edwards, Nicole ; Elbon, Barbara ; Feadan, Kathleen ; Fechter-Leggett, Ethan ; Feng Chia Su ; Freeland, Diana ; Game, Steve ; Gowda, Shilpa ; Harvey, Reid ; McClelland, Tia ; Neu, Dylan ; Reynolds, Laura ; Stanton, Marcia ; Tift, Brian ; Tennant, Michele
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057747
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB2020-100138
• Citation:
  NIOSH [2019]. Health hazard evaluation report: Evaluation of exposures and ; respiratory health at a rubber manufacturing facility. By Tomasi SE, Park J-H, Nett RJ, ; Martin Jr SB, Bailey RL, Cox-Ganser JM. Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health ; and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute ; for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH HHE Report No. 2016-0227-3364,
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  326299 - All Other Rubber Product Manufacturing - (NAICS)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:68c257ea3dbd8ec5734b46626e03f567269f511c70e4bbd3cbc82caa31e4780b1a7292b036df9229e729f2c4a2a3b5e93f7fc8040176b141c067d388dc7dc635
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/172335/cdc_172335_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.17 MB ]