Evaluation of Metalworking Fluid Exposure and Dermatitis among Rifle Barrel Manufacturing Employees

Details

• Personal Author:
  Broadwater, Kendra R. ; Mueller, Charles A. ; Tapp, Loren C.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  A manager at a rifle barrel manufacturer requested the Health Hazard Evaluation Program evaluate skin irritation and rashes among employees exposed to metalworking fluids. We took personal air samples for metalworking fluid mist and endotoxin. We observed work practices and personal protective equipment use to identify opportunities for dermal exposure. We asked sampled employees to complete a symptom survey after their work shift. We asked all employees to complete a questionnaire about work exposures and possible work-related symptoms. Employees had skin exposure to metalworking fluids including oils and coolant, and rust inhibitor. We found a significant association between skin exposure to coolant and work-related dermatitis. Co-exposure to the corrosion inhibitor may have been a contributing factor. Some production employees reported work-related asthma-like symptoms. Employees with work-related respiratory symptoms were exposed to airborne metalworking fluid levels known to cause or worsen respiratory symptoms even though exposures were at or below NIOSH-recommended limits. We found one metalworking fluid mist level at the NIOSH recommended limit. Endotoxin levels were low. We recommended the company provide employees with tools to reduce potential exposure to oil and rust inhibitor. We recommended improving access to and enforcing consistent use of gloves. We also recommended establishing a medical surveillance program for employees exposed to metalworking fluids.
• Subjects:
  • Asthma
  • Asthma, Occupational
  • Corrosion
  • Dermatitis
  • Endotoxins
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services
  • Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities
  • Metal Workers
  • Metals
  More +
• Keywords:
  • OSHA Region 1
  • Manufacturing
  • Dermal exposures
  • Dermatitis
  • Skin exposure
  • Skin irritants
  • Metalworking fluids
  • MWFs
  • Metalworking industry
  • Mineral oils
  More +
• Source:
  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, HHE 2014-0170-3263, 2016 Dec ; :1-41
• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHHHE201401703263
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  New Hampshire ; OSHA Region 1
• 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:
  48 pdf pages
• Contributor:
  Booher, Donald E. ; Chiu, Sophia ; Feldmann, Karl D. ; Galloway, Ellen ; Giglio, Denise ; Moore, Kevin ; Victory, Kerton ; Watts, Shawna ; Zwack, Leonard
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049058
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB2017-101409
• Citation:
  NIOSH 2016. Evaluation of metalworking fluid exposure and dermatitis among rifle ; barrel manufacturing employees. By Tapp LC, Broadwater K, Mueller CA. Cincinnati, ; OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control ; and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH Health ; Hazard Evaluation Report 2014-0170-3263,
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  332994 - Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing - (NAICS)
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/172401/cdc_172401_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.16 MB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:cd19ec553c846d1a07d6e8c646e8fc391c3afb2d08e091f57139df90d5d1769c622141f5771f52a9711210f6371d79dc01d584c964c6b87b7775d970c64b66e1